Our 27-year-old sister was a patient on the Labor and Delivery Unit at Covenant Children’s Hospital. She was on an emotional and spiritual journey of highs and lows as she loved being the tough and loving mom she is for her current 7-year-old daughter, birthing her naturally. She struggled with the process of being induced for her second pregnancy, full of tears in her eyes and feelings of being a failure. Both my sister and I are nurses of the family, we were ready and more than willing to step in and be that emotional and spiritual support for our baby sister. Everything was new and frightening to my sister as we watched her struggle to find peace with receiving the epidural and the new delivery process of being induced. It is the love, education, compassion, and kindness that we as nurses strive to provide to our patients. It was Miriam who exemplified these values and qualities.

Through it all, Miriam was there, working tirelessly, adjusting the fetal heart monitors and IV pumps, diligently repositioning and making her as comfortable as possible, helping our sister and us understand the process, all the while keeping the joy, happiness, and love that should be experienced when bringing a child into this world. She patiently explained things to us, providing moments of silence for questions or concerns, emotional hugs to grandma and grandpa, who anxiously waited, telling stories of their anticipation of baby boy's arrival. Miriam not only went above and beyond by ensuring that mom to be and family felt comfortable but also expressed concern for baby’s respiratory grunting after only a couple of minutes old. Assessing time and time again until she used her gut intuition and experience to ask for a nursery nurse and NICU team to come perform an assessment and get their clinical judgment and opinion. Mom, Dad, and family went through our own emotional and exhausting journey during these assessments. Trying to find peace and understanding of the situation. Miriam calmly and openly explained to the entire family and worried mom and dad about the next steps in baby boy's care. Ensuring that he is in good hands and that having closer monitoring and eyes on baby would provide a safer and effective environment for baby boy to grow stronger.

When leaving the mom and baby unit, our family was beyond thankful and appreciative for all the hard work and dedication Miriam Rivas had provided the compassion and love that all nurses should strive for. It was obvious Miriam cared for our sister and family deeply. Miriam, in that moment, had become family to us. Giving hugs and waving goodbye was hard for our family, but we know that with her knowledge, compassion, and skills, she will be an amazing labor and delivery nurse- the type of labor and delivery nurse I hope all moms and families get to experience. Every day her knowledge and skills were evident, that she is an inspiration to her coworkers and nurses alike, even those watching from the other side of the bed. Her passion for this field and specialty must not go unnoticed. She is the epitome of a hardworking and dedicated nurse in this line of bringing life into this world. May God continue to bless Miriam Rivas.