I was admitted to the OB unit after going into labor at 22 weeks. My water had unknowingly broken several weeks prior, leading to two weeks of anxiety, devastating circumstances, and many difficult decisions. While going into labor was not unexpected, it was a heartbreaking realization of the choices our family needed to make.

I was seen in the OB ER and then transferred to the OB floor in anticipation of labor worsening. Around midnight, as labor intensified, my nurse checked on me. Shortly after, Madison arrived. She had cared for me during a short weekend admission in the past two weeks, which aimed at trying to buy some time before labor and prevent infection.

Madison's presence brought an immediate sense of calm to a chaotic and devastating time. She held my hand for the next two hours, offering words of encouragement to both my husband and me. Madison was not assigned to be my nurse that night, but chose to be, knowing she was called to be part of my story. I am confident that Madison's presence, competence, and empathy guided me through to delivery.

After giving birth, Madison knew exactly the right balance over the next few hours, ensuring I knew she was available when needed, giving my husband and me uninterrupted time with our baby, and providing all the post-delivery necessities while offering the most encouraging words critical to walking me through the loss and grief of a child.

Madison understood the situation at hand, including preserving all the items that she knew I, as a parent, would want to cherish for years to come, acknowledging the importance of what seemed like simple, mundane items and keepsakes.

At the end of her shift, she presented a box and a scrapbook with our baby's statistics and memorabilia. She then engaged in the most remarkable conversation I have witnessed between a nurse and a patient. Madison took the time to thank me for the strength of the decision my husband and I had to make.

She shared that she had experienced a devastating couple of months with births and outcomes, and my experience and story gave her so much peace and comfort, knowing our baby passed with love, compassion, and peace. As a mother who had to make an incredibly difficult, evidence-based decision, Madison's comment gave me immense validation and peace during such a challenging circumstance.

To this day, as I continue EMDR treatment, those words remain crucial to my healing and recall of the stressful situation we endured.

Madison's empathy, compassion, competence, and expertise will stick with me for the rest of my life, and I cannot thank her enough for choosing to be with me, my husband, and our baby that night, making a difference in our lives forever.