When I went into Labor and Delivery, I had no idea what I was about to go through, as it was my first child. When I was admitted, I was very nervous and honestly wasn’t expecting to be at the hospital for long, and to be turned away to go back home. I was actually admitted as my water had broken, and they noticed I was beginning to have contractions. At the time I met Sherri, I was there for the second shift change. Sherri immediately comes in, greets us, and asks us questions to get to know everyone in the room: my mom, husband, and me. Whenever family came to visit, she would get to know them as well. She was so warm and inviting, which was nice considering I had already had two epidurals wear off, and I had also been throwing up throughout delivery.

Sherri was with me every single step of the way, providing calmness during a 23-hour labor, for the majority of which she was present, and then coached me perfectly through 4 hours of pushing. She was so good at getting everyone involved in my birth, asking questions about whether it was okay for people to stay; and when the baby’s heart rate began to be lower than what they wanted, she and a team of nurses flew in, and she comforted me the whole time. I will never have the words to thank her for everything she did. She took such great care of me and my son before she left for the night.

The next day, she worked the day shift again, while I remained in the hospital. My baby had been sent to the NICU, and she went out of her way to come find me and ask how I was doing, talking to me, making me feel human again. I will forever be grateful for the care and support she gave me in my time at the hospital as a first-time mom. She went above and beyond for me, my family, and my baby’s comfort.