Rheta came into our lives on the worst day that we can imagine. I was going through TFMR and having to lie on a table while everyone waited for my baby’s heartbeat to slowly stop. She came into that room, and the impact she made in the next couple of days was astounding. She held my hand and let me know how good I was doing, even though it felt like my heart had just been ripped out of my chest. She made sure I knew that my baby boy didn’t feel an ounce of pain and that the decision we made was to end his suffering before it began. She got me put into a delivery room away from the sounds and sights of other moms who would be taking home a baby, since I was losing mine.

Rheta was there with me while I waited for my induction to progress to meet my sleeping baby. We sat there knowing he was gone, and knowing we were the ones to make that horrible and hard decision. She assured my thoughts and decisions every step of the way. She held my hand and helped me through every single contraction, my epidural, and the birth of my sweet sleeping angel boy. She made sure I had ample time to hold him, look at him, love on him, and say goodbye to him. She took amazing keepsake photos that I will forever have to remember him by.

As I held him crying, she put her hand on my shoulder and kept reassuring me of how strong I was, even when I felt like the weakest person in the world. She was compassionate and caring, and made it known to me that my baby’s life mattered, no matter how short. She told me that he is and will always be my son, and he will always be with me. She reassured me that it’s okay not to be okay, and to let my grief come out. I will never forget the words she said to me in those moments. Every time I hear her name or her words in my head, it brings me back to holding my sweet boy, even though I cannot hold him again. Once it was time to say goodbye and leave, without my sleeping angel, Rheta gave me our memory box, which I will treasure forever.

She wheeled me outside and made sure I didn’t have to go through the route of seeing babies or the nursery after what we just went through. She stood there by my side, helping me smile by reassuring me again, over and over, until my husband brought our car around. She gave me the biggest hug, and we said our goodbyes. Rheta will always be the bright light on the darkest day of my life. Reliving that day is painful because my baby is gone, but being able to remember his face and how he felt in my arms is something I can never thank Rheta enough for.

She made a huge difference in my life, and I am far beyond blessed to have met her that day. Every time I hear her name, it will always bring me back to holding my baby boy, and that is all I can ask for.

Thank you, Rheta, for being so amazing and genuine.