We met Zoe on the first night our daughter was admitted to the High Dependency Unit. As a first-time mum, I was scared to leave my daughter, but Zoe told me that she would look after her as if she were one of her own, and that I should get some rest. Later that night, Zoe identified that my daughter, a tiny 5-week-old baby, was having seizures.

She was sent for a CT scan, and we found out that she was very poorly. Later that week, we were transferred to Birmingham Children's Hospital, trying to get a diagnosis. Zoe accompanied me during that ambulance transfer. As I stood alone in the ward with my baby, Zoe, before leaving, she gave me a hug while I cried, scared to be on my own in a new place.

Five months later, we were admitted back into the High Dependency Unit. Sitting in the same chair, Zoe started her shift. Zoe did not leave my baby's side that last day. We tried chest physio for 4 hours on our baby, and I believe Zoe would have stood there all day if it meant my baby would have been okay. When the time came to make my baby comfortable, Zoe acted with grace, compassion, and love. She made a space for us and our family so that we could cuddle our daughter.

She knew when it was the right time to stop monitoring her and when to remove CPAP so that we could be comfortable together. After my baby passed, Zoe, alongside another excellent nurse, gave my baby cuddles and created a separate space so that we could sit with her for a while. Then myself, my husband, and the nurses walked our daughter to the mortuary. When we said goodbye to her, we all cried together.

I will never forget that Zoe felt my baby's loss that day, too.