| After starting in healthcare as a nursing assistant 40 years ago, Natalie is passionate about caring for the most vulnerable Minnesotans. In fact, during the peak of Covid, she worked as a nursing assistant many shifts, because there was no second or third line like hockey when staff were out for 14, 10, 7, or 5 days for Covid exposure or positive as the Minnesota Department of Health revised the rules.
The pandemic gave her valuable experience after coordinating a Catholic funeral in the parking lot, or setting up fish houses outside resident apartment windows to allow family members to be together during death. These experiences with family members and aging seniors, made her co-author a House File 666. Natalie is passionate about getting this bill across the finish line to assure every patient or resident can choose to have a support person present while receiving care or services.
Natalie approached her first year as a State Representative with the same level of energy that reflects the value of hard work and Northern Minnesota Values. She has served her community as a Rotarian, fundraising for community and school initiatives, church capital improvement, and now is employed by the great people of 3B. Her service continues for all of them.
Natalie is a member of Peace in Christ Lutheran Church in Hermantown. She published a book "The Scars you Can't See" in 2021 to promote healing from all traumas in life. Natalie's trauma was a Breast Cancer diagnosis in 2015, and after a double mastectomy is cancer free. Natalie brushed the edge of death with a stage 1 cancer diagnosis, after developing an infection and sepsis. Natalie is a fighter and will fight for all of you. She understands how fragile life is, and brings her contagious energy to create a pathway for better days ahead.
Natalie grew up in St. Francis, Minnesota on a family farm. Her dad was a principal at the middle school she attended, and later became the Superintendent for District 15. Her parents, Mike and Kathy Wyatt raised three kids and instilled the importance of community and volunteering. Growing up in a farm community allowed her to experience and watch citizens working together for the betterment of the whole. My days were filled with school, school activities, and normal farm chores. Free time was spent riding horses and playing with numerous cats in the barn. Nothing fancy, just hard work, and discipline. There were many days the bus driver stopped the bus to say, "Wyatt kids off the bus, the cows are out". This is typical of farm life especially when your dad is the principal and your mom is a bus driver on another route.
After graduating in 1985, Natalie attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Her diploma provided a future of employment opportunities. However, her work & life experiences gave her an education like no other. She was honored to serve thousands of seniors the past 30 years, and this served as the best history class ever. These seniors lived history. These seniors allowed Natalie and everyone else the opportunities which exist today. These seniors are true heroes. |