First and foremost, I want to say how wonderful the staff of this hospital is, but there is one group that has made an impact on my life forever: Women’s and Children’s. Almost a year ago, my husband and I became pregnant and began to experience the greatest time of our lives. The entire pregnancy was great, and everything went as expected until it came time for delivery. I began to experience possible labor but was not sure that it was “real”. After much debate I came to the hospital just to make sure that I wasn’t just sweeping my symptoms under the rug. Turns out it wasn’t active labor but the beginning of labor. The girls that night were great and made sure I got medicine to feel relief and instructed me on symptoms that would cause me to return to the hospital. Being a nurse, this was my first time experiencing something of this nature because my field is not in women, babies, and especially not both.

The next day, I labored for quite a while at home, and after being able to call the unit to decide whether to come in or not, I decided to come that night when the same girls would be there from the night before. This time was different; my pain was intense, and things were getting really “real” for me as a first-time mom. I was picked up in a wheelchair first by Megan Goodenbour. She greeted me with a smile and quickly got me to Labor and Delivery. Once arriving on the unit Mikayla Brandon was there and went into action. I really don’t think she took a breath. These two wonderful God sent women let me know my baby was coming, and we were in it for the long haul together.

Around 11:30 that night, things began to turn from a normal waiting game to a more serious event. My epidural by Dr. Massey worked for only a few minutes (come to find out my baby’s position messed the whole thing up), and the girls began to try to do their best to make me comfortable. My labor was so intense by that time that I could not focus on what they were doing or what was going on around me. Before I knew it, I was in the craziest positions with Mikayla, Megan, Taylor Tebben, Claire Chambles, Dr. Escue, and Dr. Massey all in the room. These girls meant business. I had no clue that my baby’s heart was not tolerating labor at that point. Once, I was in a normal position with Mikayla in full nurse mode and Megan holding my hand, they let me know I was going to have an emergency C-section and would be asleep when my baby was born. My child’s sex was unknown, and I was heartbroken that I would not find out at birth. Dr. Escue and the nursing team reassured me that not even my husband would know the sex until I was awake, and my husband and I could find out together. I became extremely sick on the way to the delivery room; Taylor held my hair back and grabbed an emesis bag while Dr. Escue came out and finished pulling me into the OR. Once back there Mikayla was preparing tables, Dr. Massey coached me and did his absolute best to decrease my anxiety. When I left my room, I saw the time was 12:58, my baby was born at 1:08. Only true angels and the hands of God can perform something so serious in such a quick time with the best of the best outcomes. My son is here today because of this team.

My story is not as traumatic as some have or as joyous, but our story is able to be told because of this team. My excellent care continued even when we went to post-partum. Those girls encouraged me, loved me (and my baby), and ensured that I was set up to go home as a first-time momma. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything that each of you do! I will forever hold each of you in my heart and won’t forget how you helped me gain the greatest title of all, momma.