1st Nomination
Last year, I had my first baby. The pregnancy was absolutely horrible as I had developed a massive blood clot in my leg. I had developed major health anxiety, and being in the hospital or anywhere near the hospital just terrified me. Many doctors and nurses had made me feel crazy about all my concerns. I went into labor and was admitted. That is when my family and I met Emma.

This being my first baby, I was so scared. Emma stood by me every step of the way. She walked me through every single step, held my hand, and held me when I cried. She made me feel safe, which was something I hadn't felt in the last nine months. When it came time to push, she never left my side. Encouraging, keeping me calm, and walking me through every decision I had. She kept the mood light by asking about my husband and our life. I truly felt like we were friends, which again helped me feel safe and comfortable.

My delivery didn't go quite as planned because my son was crooked. I had been pushing for over two hours when my doctor told me I needed to make a decision and think about using a vacuum delivery. The doctor left the room, and Emma stood by my side and talked to me about all the pros and cons of a vacuum delivery. She was very clear about what it all entailed and also told me about other options. She advocated for me to the doctor when the vacuum wouldn't work in order to help me avoid having a C-section. She said I only needed a little more time, and she encouraged me to keep fighting, all while holding my hand and talking to me. She was the biggest cheerleader and support system.

Even my husband, who is very shy and reserved, felt comfortable with Emma, asking her questions and for advice. I pushed for over three and a half hours. I knew during the delivery that Emma's shift had ended, but she told me she wasn't going to leave until we had a baby. She stayed several hours past her scheduled clock-out time. She didn't leave after I delivered the baby. She kept telling me how strong I was and spoke with my family in the waiting room to make sure they were kept in the loop and knew I was okay.

We all know that if it weren't for Emma, I wouldn't have made it through that delivery. My experience at Allen was far from the greatest, but after meeting Emma and her amazing care of me, my son, and my family, I will absolutely return to Allen for my future babies. She went above and beyond in her care on so many levels, and I truly hope she knows how she changed my life.

2nd Nomination
Emma was part of my delivery team, and she was awesome! This was my first child, so I had no idea what to expect. I was induced on a Monday evening and was fully dilated 24 hours later at the start of her shift. I hadn’t gotten much sleep, and I was exhausted. After pushing for three hours, I was ready to throw in the towel and get a C-section. My baby’s head had measured over the 99th percentile, and after pushing for so long, I was convinced that the baby’s head was too large, and I wanted to give up.

Emma motivated me and kept telling me I was strong, I was doing amazing, and I was so close to meeting my baby. She also coached me on how to push more effectively and offered different positions to push in. When they called the doctor in to deliver my baby, she finally asked my husband for his phone, and she snapped a bunch of pictures and videos of us.

This was far above and beyond what we expected of our nurses, and it means so much to us that she captured such a special moment in our lives. Emma demonstrated excellent communication skills, kindness, empathy, and extraordinary service. She is an outstanding role model to the nursing community, and Allen Hospital is so lucky to have her on its staff.