It wasn't the medicine that cured me, it was the nurse, Bintu Jalloh. When I met Bintu during the morning shift, the moment she greeted me in my native language, I knew I was in good hands. She told me another nurse had requested her to take care of me because they knew we spoke the same language. From the very beginning, she introduced herself to me, my husband, and even my newborn in our native language, even though she knew the baby could not respond. That alone made me feel seen, safe, and understood.

I am writing this DAISY Award nomination because the care Bintu provided to me was unlike anything I have ever experienced. What stood out most was how she took the time to explain everything to me. She shared that she was in school to become a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner, and she clearly understood my condition, postpartum pre-eclampsia. I was stressed, overwhelmed, in pain, and confused about everything happening to my body. I began refusing certain care, like blood draws, medication, and vital checks, because it all felt like too much. Bintu changed all that when she sat down with me and explained everything, every task, every medication, and every reason behind my care in a way I could understand, in my native language. Although I speak some English, medical terms were confusing to me. Because of her patience and clear explanations, I stopped refusing care. I trusted her judgement. I trusted her with my life.

She spoke to me with compassion and understanding, and I later found out she had a baby less than a year ago. I had just given birth a week ago, and she truly understood what I was going through. What truly touched my heart was how she cared not only for me but also for my baby, who was not a patient. Even though I was the patient, she went far beyond her role. Every two hours, she would come into my room to help feed my baby. She would say, "No, I got it" Sit down and rest. She would feed, burp and put my baby to sleep. The rest she gave me made a huge difference in my recovery. As a new mother, my body needed that rest more than I could explain.

She noticed my baby had soiled his clothes, and I had not brought extras because I didn't expect to stay in the hospital. My husband was afraid to leave my side because he thought I might die, since I had never got sick before, and the way I was feeling scared him. The next morning, Bintu came back to work with brand new baby clothes. I was in shock, and I could not hold back my tears. She told me she had four boys at home and had extra new clothes that were never used. She also arranged for a bassinet when she saw my baby sleeping in the hospital bed with me. She made sure we had formula when I was running low. She anticipated our needs before we even had to ask. There is so much more I could say about this nurse. She deserves every recognition possible.

The care she gave me was not just medical, it was compassionate, personal, and life-changing. This nurse deserves all the recognition she can get. Please, I kindly ask that you award Nurse Bintu Jalloh this DAISY Award and let her know how grateful we are. If I can be there while she receives this award, please call me. It wasn't the medicine that cured me, it was the nurse, Bintu Jalloh. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.