SAN ANTONIO – Caring for others has always been a shared calling for sisters Lana Zakareya and Layal Zakaria, and now the two registered nurses are doing it side by side in San Antonio.
Ahead of National Sisters Day on Sunday, Aug. 2, the sisters are working together on the telemetry unit at Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak, supporting patients and one another through every shift. Zakareya, 25, and Zakaria, 27, are first-generation Americans and first-generation college graduates who say they have relied on each other throughout their education and careers.
Their path into healthcare started long before they put on scrubs. Growing up in a close-knit family, they helped care for relatives, including assisting their grandmother with everyday activities and supporting loved ones through illness. Those experiences, they say, taught them the value of compassion, service and being there for people when they need it most.
Lana Zakareya said she knew early on that healthcare was her future.
“I remember bringing a stethoscope to Career Day in second grade because I already knew I wanted to help people,” she said. “I’ve always loved science, learning about the human body and connecting with people. Nursing gave me the opportunity to do all of those things.”
After earning a bachelor’s degree in biology from The University of Texas at San Antonio, Zakareya often helped her sister study during nursing school, quizzing her with flashcards and learning alongside her.
“Watching my sister go through nursing school opened my eyes to everything the profession offers,” Zakareya said. “She showed me there were so many opportunities to grow while making a real difference in people’s lives.”
Layal Zakaria earned an associate degree in nursing from San Antonio College before beginning her nursing career. Zakareya followed a similar path after completing her biology degree. Today, both sisters are continuing their education by pursuing Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees.
Working on the same unit has strengthened their partnership, they said, whether it is asking for a second opinion during a complex patient situation, helping each other during busy shifts or checking in after a difficult day.
“It’s like having a built-in mentor,” Zakareya said. “If I have a question or need another set of eyes, I know she’s there. We learn from each other every day.”
Zakaria said the support goes both ways.
“We’re always looking out for each other,” she said. “If one of us is overwhelmed, the other steps in. At the end of the day, we debrief together because we understand exactly what the other person has experienced.”
Coworkers have noticed the connection, and the sisters are often mistaken for one another by patients and colleagues because of their similar appearance and shared commitment to compassionate care. The sisters also recalled a patient who was cared for by both of them during separate hospital stays, remembered each of them by name and regularly asked about the other.
As their careers evolve, their goals reflect a shared commitment to lifelong learning. Zakaria is pursuing her BSN with aspirations in nursing education and leadership, while Zakareya is also earning her BSN and hopes to transition into critical care.
Ahead of National Sisters Day, the sisters said they hope their story encourages others to appreciate family, embrace opportunities to grow together, and consider healthcare as a meaningful career.
“The bond between sisters is something special,” Zakaria said. “Working together in healthcare has made that bond even stronger because we understand each other’s challenges and celebrate each other’s successes.”
Zakareya said, “I’m proud to call her my sister because she’s resilient, hardworking and always advocates for her patients.”
Zakaria added, “I’m proud to call her my sister because she’s my best friend. She’s always been there for me.”