My husband, N, and I welcomed a baby girl. This was our second baby but my first induction, and I wouldn't have made it through without Michelle! Anyone who has had a baby knows that the L&D process can be a blur, but the moments of care Michelle provided stand out in my otherwise hazy memory.

When my epidural was being placed, the anesthesia provider's commentary led us to believe there was a scary complication. My husband nearly lost consciousness, and I was shaking like a leaf! Michelle stepped in, clasped my shaking hands, looked into my eyes, and got me through it. Later, I asked, "Michelle...what just happened?" She took the time to explain to me exactly what had transpired and reassured me that all was well.

While I was hooked up to so many tubes and wires (catheter, IV, IUPC, epidural, BP cuff), I felt like Frankenstein's monster! When my OB provider suggested placing a device for internal fetal monitoring, Michelle persisted with finding our baby on the external fetal monitor just to spare me from one additional "hookup." When I was in transition and in pain (shaking like a leaf, again!) Michelle took the initiative to call in another anesthesia provider to help me through. My daughter was born after 8 pm, and Michelle stayed past the end of her shift and was there when our baby made her auspicious debut! I remember Michelle looking me in the eyes to tell me, "Great job, congratulations," and "goodbye." Those who, like me, get Michelle to guide them through the long and arduous process of labor are lucky!