When I think back on the birth of my son, I think about two things: the incredible team at Nash who helped save both of our lives, and one nurse in particular who forever changed the way I experienced one of the hardest seasons of my life. While every person who cared for us at Nash was absolutely fantastic, Hayden’s compassion and kindness left a mark on my heart that I will never forget.

I delivered my son unexpectedly at just 34 weeks due to placenta abruption. What I thought would be a routine delivery quickly became an emergency, and my son spent the following two weeks in the Special Care Nursery. It was a time filled with gratitude, fear, joy, and grief all at once.

I first met Hayden in Labor & Delivery, not as my nurse, but as the person who came to stay with my toddler so my husband could be by my side during my emergency C-section. In one of the scariest moments of my life, before she even really knew me, she walked straight over, wrapped me in a hug, and said, “It’s going to be okay.” She was a complete stranger, yet in that moment she felt like a lifelong friend.

After my son was born, Hayden became one of my postpartum nurses. During those next few days, she cared for me with a level of compassion that went far beyond excellent nursing. She made me feel seen. She understood that while I was overjoyed to have my son here safely, I was also trying to process a birth that I never expected. She never made me feel like I had to choose between celebrating with my son and grieving the experience that brought him into the world. She simply met me where I was, every single time.

What makes Hayden extraordinary is that her care didn’t end when I was discharged. Since my son remained in the Special Care Nursery for two weeks, I stayed with him every night. Whenever Hayden was working, she made it a point to come check on us. She wasn’t assigned to my care anymore, yet she continued showing up. She checked on my heart, asked how I was doing, celebrated every little milestone with my son, and reminded me that I mattered too.

Hayden played so many different roles throughout my journey. She comforted me before surgery, cared for me during my postpartum recovery, encouraged me as a NICU mom, and continued supporting me long after her responsibility to me had officially ended. Every interaction with her brought light into a birth story and recovery that looked nothing like I had imagined.

When I look back on those weeks, I don’t just remember the fear. I remember the people who carried us through it. Hayden is one of those people. She embodies everything nursing should be compassionate, genuine, selfless, and deeply invested in the people she cares for.

I’ll never forget the hugs he gave me before surgery, the countless times she made me feel seen, or the way she continued to care for me even after I was no longer her patient. She didn’t just help me recover physically; she helped my heart begin to heal.

Because of Hayden, one of the most difficult experiences of my life is also filled with memories of kindness.