I went into the Family Birthing Center for a routine NST, only to be told that I would need to deliver my son that very night, and that my doctor was not on call. I was overwhelmed with fear. My birth plan was suddenly changing, my son’s heart rate was struggling, and everything felt uncertain.

That’s when I met Megan, who came on for the second shift just hours before my C-section. From the moment she entered the room, she brought warmth, positivity, and compassion that made me feel safe for the first time that day. Even words like kind, friendly, and caring don’t feel strong enough to describe what she meant to me in that moment.

Megan sat with me, asked thoughtful questions about how I was feeling, what I wanted, and how I hoped things would unfold. She listened closely and advocated for me with the doctors, ensuring my voice was heard even when I was too overwhelmed to speak up. She never left my side.

When the time came for my C-section, Megan explained everything that would happen, before, during, and after the procedure. She kept talking to me throughout the delivery, updating me gently and reassuringly. She was the first person to tell my son “Happy Birthday” when he was born, and hearing those words brought me to tears. It was a moment I will never forget.

After my son arrived, while other nurses were caring for him, Megan stayed by my side, making sure I was okay physically and emotionally. She continually reassured me, asked if I had questions, and explained everything with such patience and detail that I always felt informed and comforted.

My spouse had been driving home from another state to be with us, and when he arrived, Megan welcomed him immediately. She included him in everything, answered his questions, and made him feel every bit as supported as I was.

Megan continued to be my nurse all three nights I was in the hospital, working 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. each shift. Over those days, she became more than a nurse; she truly felt like a friend. She always started her shift by checking on me and the baby, asking how my day went, and making sure I felt cared for.

At night, she even offered to take my son for a few hours so I could sleep. She would bring him back with the sweetest “report” of how he had been doing, treating him with the same tenderness she showed me. Megan cared for me as if I were her own family and turned what began as a terrifying experience into one of the most meaningful and beautiful moments of my life.

I am forever grateful for the extraordinary care she provided to both me and my son. Megan is not only an exceptional nurse, but she is an exceptional human being. Her joy, compassion, and dedication shine through in everything she does. Any patient would be incredibly lucky to have her as their nurse.