When I woke up, I never in a million years could have predicted what events would unfold throughout the day. I was 39 weeks pregnant and on my way into work at our local hospital in Spencer, IA when I started having contractions. Normally, I would have been excited, the time is finally here; however, the Spencer Hospital had a fire in their OR the night before which shut down all surgical procedures indefinitely. After consulting with my OB doctor, it was determined to go by ambulance to Sioux Falls to deliver. While en route to Sioux Falls, I had a very experienced OB nurse who decided that I was progressing too quickly and that we needed to stop at the next hospital on our route. That hospital was Sanford Worthington Medical Center. Being an Iowa native and unfamiliar with southern Minnesota, I had never been in the town of Worthington before, nor had any information on the hospital and services they provided. Most people would describe me as a very structured individual who always has a plan for everything. So, when things weren't going according to my birth plan, stress and anxiety kicked in. Fortunately, when we arrived in Worthington, the staff was amazing, especially Mary, our OB nurse. She kept me calm while she confidently performed her duties explaining details along the way. My son was born at 5:10 pm and while it brought me joy to bring a life into this world, it was also the scariest moment in my life thus far.
Our son, B, had some respiratory complications when he was born. I still vividly remember looking over to the nurses and the doctor who had taken B right when he was born. Mary was performing CPR on his motionless little body. The next three minutes while CPR was being performed, my husband and I cried and watched helplessly praying that whatever was going on, that B would pull through. Fortunately, B is a fighter and eventually took his first breath for us. It was decided that B needed to be shipped out to Sanford in Sioux Falls. My husband went with B and the ambulance team to Sioux Falls, while I remained in Worthington. I still remember watching my husband and B walking down the hallway towards the elevator and thinking to myself that I am stuck in this unfamiliar hospital in an unfamiliar town all by myself. As I walked back to my room without my husband or newborn baby, Mary knew that my emotions were taking over and as I started crying, she took my hand and reassured me that everything would be ok. It was at that moment that I needed compassion the most. She was there for me, not only as my nurse but as a genuine kind and caring human being helping me in any way that she could.
B spent the next week in the NICU at Sanford in Sioux Falls recovering from an infection with an unknown etiology. We were very blessed to bring home a healthy baby and we all are doing well. I am a huge believer in the saying, "Everything happens for a reason." I truly believe that we were meant to be in Worthington delivering our baby and in the care of Mary. From the moment Mary stepped into our room and introduced herself as my nurse to when she gave me a hug at the end of her shift ensuring me that everything would be ok, she was nothing short of amazing. I want Mary to know that she will forever hold a special place in my heart for the compassion that was shown to my husband, my son, and myself. My hope, for Mary, is that she knows just how important her role was in bringing my son into this world and that it compels her to keep exceeding beyond boundaries in her duties and her role that she plays at Worthington Medical Center. Future families and patients will be blessed to be in her care.