I gave birth to my son this year. I was admitted to the SIUH L&D unit with Jessica Ghali as my nurse, and she was so incredible with my care from beginning to end.

I was having horrific contractions with no break and was in so much pain waiting for my epidural. I can barely remember the experience because of how horrible my body felt, but I can easily remember how comforted and reassured Jessica made me feel throughout it all. She was so patient with me and helped me keep breathing. She held me tight and let me basically scream into her shoulder when my husband had to leave while I had the epidural placed, and she made sure that they followed my birth plan down to every last detail.

In a process that was inherently traumatizing, undignified, embarrassing, and agonizing, she made me feel totally safe and wonderfully cared for, treating me with respect and doing her job with grace and humor. I am confident that if she had needed to, she could have delivered my son completely on her own. My son is ten months old now, he is huge compared to that day, and he is wonderful and smart. He's trying to walk on his own, he dances, he loves to read books with his dad and me.

Even now, as I plan his first birthday, I still think about Jessica multiple times a week! I hope that she understands what a profound effect she has had on my experience of motherhood, because truly, she is one of the most wonderful people I have ever met.