The birth of our perfect son was the greatest day of our lives. During the entire nine months of my pregnancy, waiting and anticipating for this day to arrive, I knew it would be the best day in my life but what I didn't know, is the care I would receive that day would make my son's delivery into this world even more special.
When I arrived at the hospital, through the ER for a scheduled induction, the ER staff was nothing short of outstanding regarding the way they treated me with my nerves and anxiety. This was a whole new experience for me and I didn't know what to expect so naturally, I was having a minor panic attack on the inside. When I got to labor and delivery, the nurses were in the process of changing shifts. At that moment, I met a nurse, Dawnlin, who would change the rest of that day for the better. From the moment she walked in the door at the beginning of her shift to the moment she left at the end of her shift, I never once felt like she was tired or didn't want to be there. I never once felt like she had other patients she had to take care of or more important, day to day, tasks that needed to be handled. She made me feel like I was the only person in the hospital at that time. She calmed me through the contractions, epidural, post-delivery "issues" and most importantly of all, the delivery itself. Through the whole labor and delivery process, I had three people by my side who mean the world to me - my husband, my mom, and my sister. But through the rough times of the delivery process, it was Dawnlin who was always there to lend a hand or shoulder when it was needed most. Her comforting words and understanding of the process are what gave me the reassurance that I could, in fact, find the strength to deliver this tiny human. I always thought to myself, what I could do to show this person my gratitude for the way she treated me on the most vulnerable day of my life. I believe this is the best way I know how to show her my gratitude. I think people who go above and beyond should be praised for their actions.
When I look back at that day, all I do is smile. I smile at the fact that I have my son in this world and smile at the memories I have of that day. Having Dawnlin as a nurse not only made that day perfect for myself and my family but has forever created a positive memory that will stick with me for a lifetime. To her, I was just a patient she took care of but to me, she was truly an angel on earth.