Three Generations of Nurses Carry On a Legacy at Antelope Valley Medical Center

When Patricia Pendleton first walked the halls of Antelope Valley Medical Center in Lancaster, she could never have imagined that her own daughters and grandchildren would someday wear the same badge. After a quarter‑century of night‑shifts, newborn deliveries and quiet afternoons in the ER, Patricia retired, but the hospital’s corridors still echo with the family name.

"They’re doing wonderful things. They’re saving lives, and that’s what we should all try to do," Patricia said in a recent interview, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she recalled watching her own children grow up amidst the scent of antiseptic and the hum of machines.

Her daughter, Terryl Call, remembers the day her mother cradled her ailing father as he battled cancer. "We were basically raised in the hospital for two years," Terryl recalled. "Seeing the care those nurses gave our dad and how they welcomed us as kids set my path.” Now a house supervisor, Terryl oversees staff, drawing on the same compassion she observed as a child.

The legacy kept on, slipping naturally from mother to daughter. Terryl’s girls, Tayler and Amanda, grew up hearing bedtime stories that involved IV drips and patient recoveries—not because they were forced, but because the profession was simply part of the family rhythm. "My mom and grandma were the coolest people ever," Amanda smiled, recalling how the nursing stories felt like family folklore.

Both sisters chose the ER at the level‑II trauma center for their first assignments, often crossing paths on night shifts. "We work nights, so we get to see Mom for an hour before she heads home. She always says ‘hi,’ and it’s the best thing," Tayler Rodriguez said, her voice a mix of pride and affection.

For this family, the hospital is more than a workplace; it’s a second home, a place where community ties are forged daily. "It shows how much we appreciate our community and how we want to give back," Rodriguez added, eyes shining.

Forty years, three generations, countless lives touched—yet the story feels still young, as each new shift writes another page in the Pendleton‑Call‑Starler nursing saga.