I’m an RN, nurse practitioner, and nursing instructor at ASU. I recently had planned a home birth for my first child and ended up having a placental abruption, leading me to your hospital at 36 weeks pregnant. I was in tears from both fear and grief of losing my dreamed of birth experience. I have been very much against having a hospital birth since I was 20 - I’m now 31. I am a survivor of trauma, so this felt like a road to another traumatic experience.

Celia was my nurse during my labor. While she was initially quiet, she warmed up and made me feel more comfortable than I can tell you. She shared photos that made me laugh, told me jokes, and I instantly started feeling better about my experience. I felt truly cared about and supported. She walked me through everything including all the decisions to make sure I had a say and offered me comforts such as ice for penicillin IV and the ability to use the shower when my contractions started more. As my contractions grew, she let me move around and would keep herself in uncomfortable positions for extended periods of time to hold on the baby monitor while I tried to find relief by moving, squatting, sitting in a shower, on a toilet... When it came time, I was in so much pain I screamed for an epidural, pain medication, anything. I was 9cm, but inconsolable, crying, screaming and scared. I had my doula, husband, CNM, and resident present, and everyone tried to tell me it was okay, and I needed to push. It's like I couldn’t register anything they said and I felt like I wasn’t being heard. I kept screaming for an epidural (which I earlier voiced being very against). Celia grabbed me, made me look her in the eye, and very firmly told me that I could do this and that I had to do this for my baby. She firmly told me I could do this quicker by myself than with an epidural. She empowered me that I could push this baby out. She explained it in terms that made me understand in a time of panic, and I felt like because of her, I made it through that birth. I leaned on her the entire time I pushed.

After my baby was born, Celia offered me support in breastfeeding and bonding. She ensured I had time to do skin-to-skin. She brought me postpartum snacks and made me a special drink for energy. When she took my daughter to assess her, she had an episode of apnea, O2 of 70%, and turned dusky blue. I noticed from the bed she looked a little off in the warmer in her color, but had no awareness of the severity of the situation. Celia acted quickly and calmly to provide her oxygen, stabilize her and notify the pediatrics team. Because she was calm - I was calm. I felt like my daughter was in the best care.

In multiple situations, Celia advocated for me and my daughter. She brought us to the nursery together to meet the staff, brought me to postpartum, and helped me to hand express colostrum to bring back at the end of her shift so my daughter would have breast milk.

Celia’s dedication to her patients and level of patient-centered care is beyond anything in healthcare I’ve ever experienced. I’ve always had poor experiences in hospital systems with apathetic nurses or subpar care. She offered me empathy, information guidance, and empowerment at the time I was most vulnerable - the most important day of my life. This birth was everything I could have ever dreamed of - and it was because of her. If you ever asked me if a hospital birth could be a positive experience in the past, I would have denied it. If anyone is a DAISY Nurse, it is Celia. I hope you consider the impact she has made upon me and my family - and I’m certain of other patients as well.