Who is Eloise from Monster: The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member and what is their importance?

Eloise is Kody's nurse while he's recovering from his first gunshot. Eloise says that her son is also in a gang, but never tells Kody whether it's his set or a rival and he briefly fears that she might tell her son about Kody's weakened condition, prompting another attack on his life while he's in the hospital. He soon dismisses that because of Eloise's attitude and comes to depend on her. When the men who'd shot Kody return to his room, Eloise tells them to leave but then tells Kody that he'd better call his own gang for protection.