I came to the hospital to have my baby and I was very scared. I had one nurse during the day, but when she left and my night nurse, Caroline, came in, everything changed. It changed for the good. Caroline came into the room with such warmth to both me and my mom. She addressed me by name and asked my mom who she was and how she’d like to be addressed. She asked questions about me and took time to get to know me. Then she asked me how she could support me best. She wanted to know my questions and concerns, and she wanted to know me. She listened very closely to my mom and me. She then explained everything in great description and was very quick to comfort my fears, and she said I am yours for the night. She said we are a team in this room with a goal to have a baby while keeping me and my baby healthy and safe. She told me she would explain everything to me and give her advice from her experience if I wanted because she wanted me to be aware and educated on the labor process but that I was the one who would make decisions with the team. She showed me and my mom where everything in the room was and what was available to us. A little while later, when my husband arrived, she came in and took the time to go over everything again with him. She made him feel so welcome and that he was just as much a part of the labor and I was. We felt like Caroline was family. She came into the room often to make sure we were ok and told us every time if we need anything before she returned to check on us that I can call her phone from my controller at anytime.

Unfortunately, things got scary after my epidural because my baby was having problems with his heart. We were very scared, and a lot of different people came into my room. Caroline never left, and her warmth and continuing to always explain things to me was the only comfort I had to hold. She kept telling me we would do everything to keep me and my baby safe. I felt safe with her by my side. When my doctor told me I was going to have to have a C-section, I cried a lot. Caroline sat on my bed with me and held my hand. It was only because she explained all the reasons that I could understand and finally calm down. Again, she made me feel safe, and I knew my baby boy and I would be okay.

We are Haitian but have been in New Jersey for many years. We often feel treated differently and are not given the time, respect, and information we need. Never once did we feel that way with Caroline. She treated us so kindly with such care and compassion. She treated us like family. I had a healthy baby boy at the very end of her shift. And even though a new day nurse was taking over when I went into the operating room, she stayed with us until I had my baby boy right next to my face. Later that night, when she returned back to the hospital, she came to see me, my baby, and my family in my postpartum room. I cried when she walked in and gave her the biggest hug. The way she treated me, my husband, my baby and my mom was above and beyond anything I ever thought would be. Such a scary situation turned out so beautiful and not scary at all.

Caroline is a beautiful, wonderful lady and nurse with a golden soul. God bless her! We cannot be more grateful and thankful that we were blessed with her as our nurse, and we will never forget her. In my language, I want to tell her that her heart is good. Ou gen bon kè