Nomination #1:
As a first-time mom, I was nervous about labor to say the least, but from minute one (no joke), Tiana made me feel comfortable. She had a calm demeanor that allowed me to labor how I needed. She was there to offer assistance or just to listen, but was ready to jump in and take over if I needed something. She flowed with me and with the environment. Not once did I feel disregarded or disrespected. I was in charge. It was an amazing experience, and I know a lot of that is due to Tiana. She is an amazing human who picked the right field. She glows, and I will forever remember her.

Nomination #2:
A and I came to the hospital, thinking she was in labor. After the nurses in triage confirmed A was in early labor, a wave of emotions came over me, realizing how real this is now, and my daughter is finally going to be born.  After being checked into our room and coming straight from work, I was a lot less prepared than I thought I was, with just a few things in my hospital bag. Around shift change, we met Tiana and Sarah. I, being a nervous train wreck, tend to be a yapper and make jokes. Tiana and Sarah always joking back and laughing made this room feel more comfortable for me, like they already knew how to calm me.

Within an hour, we knew all about Tiana and her story being in the premature department before L&D and living out in Cali. She said she was new to the department, but L&D has always been her end goal dream. Sarah, being quite the yapper herself, we talked football and the Lions. I knew she was a big Michigan fan, but somehow ended up marrying an Ohio State fan and always trying to get her son to pick Michigan over Ohio, Lmao. They always comforted A and me; they not only helped us settle in, but also, before they left, they made sure we didn’t need anything else. Before they stepped out, they always said we’re a phone call away if we think we do. Every nurse says that, but Tiana and Sarah made us feel it and believe it.

Tiana would be helping A with something, and at one point, Sarah was helping me hook up the Roku to the TV to get A on her show. She could tell I couldn’t get it figured out, and stepped in and made it all happen. Me owning a company I was having a hard time getting my guys' job list for the day set and scheduling everything. Since they made me feel like I could ask anything, I asked Sarah if I could somehow get some things printed off for work. After a couple of thoughts, she had an email for me to send them to, and I emailed her the PDF sheets I needed, and was printed and brought to me during her break.

These two never forgot or made us ask twice about anything we asked them. I felt so cared for when shift change came, and they introduced us to the new nurses. I forgot they only have a 12 hr. shift and were leaving. I fell back into being so scared that they brought in the new nurses and introduced them to us to have an easy transition of power. I’m not one to cry or show emotion ever. But when they left, I was so sad that I was sobbing like my toddler. So, to whoever is reading this and picks the winner of this award, just know these two nurses made this experience here at Henry Ford one I will never forget. To Sarah and Tiana, if you don’t win this award, just please know you won the award of me and A, never forgetting your names and making the biggest blessing in the world of birthing a child of God into this world so smooth. Thank you for being you!