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Victor Liu lovingly calls Judy Keller “Mom,” even though his biological mother resides in China, where Victor was born.

Victor Liu lovingly calls Judy Keller “Mom,” even though his biological mother resides in China, where Victor was born. Interestingly, his Chinese name, Yuehao, has a beautiful meaning of “happy and proud” in Mandarin.

Keller considers him her third son, and he is following her path by training to become a nurse at St. Luke’s School of Nursing, where he’s set to graduate in April. Keller has been dedicated to St. Luke’s University Health Network (SLUHN) since 1993, currently providing care as a transfer nurse in the Patient Access Center. With her retirement just around the corner, in September after 32 years of service, she is excited to pass the torch to Liu and confident in his future contributions to nursing.

Their story began in 2016 when Liu, then 16, arrived in Bethlehem through an educational exchange program. Encouraged by his father, who remains in China, Liu moved to America to pursue a better life.

“My dad loves America and wanted me to come here for more opportunities,” he shares.

With no family here, he was placed with the Keller family, with whom he formed a bond for more than eight years.

In China, Liu played classical piano, especially pieces by Chopin and other Romantic-era composers. Music was his sanctuary, and even today, he finds comfort at the piano whenever the stress of school and the challenges of hospital life become overwhelming.

After graduating from Allentown Central Catholic High School in 2018, he pursued a bachelor’s degree in public health with a minor in Informatics at the University of Washington in Seattle. Initially intending to study pre-med, he ultimately found his calling in nursing—largely thanks to Keller’s encouragement.

“A nurse strives to attract more committed professionals to the field, particularly as many retire,” Keller says. She saw Liu’s intelligence and kindness and urged him to consider a nursing career. Motivated by her commitment to health care, he returned to the East Coast and was admitted to St. Luke’s School of Nursing, the longest operating nursing school in the country. To foster his independence, Keller taught him to drive and assisted him in purchasing his first car.

Without prior clinical experience, Liu found his early months in nursing school both exciting and daunting.

“During my first days, everything felt new,” he recalls. “Coming from China, I never encountered an IV pump or a digital thermometer. Dial pumps and mercury thermometers are still common in China. This advanced environment opened my eyes to new possibilities.”

Despite the initial challenges, Liu quickly found his footing, blending growing medical knowledge with the natural empathy his “Mom” had seen in him years before. Early in his training, he was nominated for a DAISY Award for helping a Hispanic grandmother communicate her wishes despite a language barrier—an experience that left a lasting impression, along with many others.

“One of my most memorable moments was with a patient suffering from severe diabetic foot complications,” Liu recalls. “She had limited mobility and was struggling with depression, making personal hygiene a challenge. Her hair was severely matted, so I carefully brushed it with a small hospital comb and detangler spray. Watching her appearance—and spirit—transform was incredibly moving. Before her CT scan, she looked at me with a warmth I’ll never forget and later told the transporter, ‘This gentleman is such a saint.’ Moments like that reaffirm why I chose nursing: to bring comfort, dignity, and care to those who need it most.”

Liu works 16 hours a week as a patient care assistant and has committed to staying at St. Luke’s for at least two years after graduation, a testament to the school’s strong recruitment efforts.

Keller’s love for him is unmistakable when she talks about their journey. She beams with pride as she describes the milestone he’s about to reach—stepping into his nursing career at St. Luke’s, just as she once did.

She will stand by his side at graduation, pinning the official St. Luke’s School of Nursing emblem on him as a symbolic welcome to the profession she has cherished.

“This will be one of the happiest days I’ve had as a nurse and a mother,” she says. “It will be a great day for Victor and for St. Luke’s too.”