Bethel exemplifies everything a nurse should strive to be. During our time in the NICU with our twins, we met many caring nurses, but Bethel truly stood apart. She is passionate about her work, highly skilled, deeply compassionate, trustworthy, and unwavering in her advocacy for her patients. Above all, she cares for our babies with a tenderness and dedication that makes them feel as though they are her own. 
 
We had the privilege of having Bethel as our primary nurse during the latter portion of our twins’ NICU stay, and from the very beginning, it was clear how trustworthy and devoted she was. I’ll never forget the first time I met her—she was completing their cares while having a full-blown conversation with them, even answering for them with playful responses like, “Silly nurse.” In that moment, I knew she was someone I wanted on our care team for as long as possible.
 
One of the qualities I appreciate most about Bethel is her unwavering advocacy for her patients. We first experienced this when one of the twins wasn’t acting like herself. I had seen how incredibly busy Bethel was all day—constantly moving between rooms—but even on the busiest of days, she never rushed through cares or brushed off my questions. She was a bit warm to the touch, breathing harder, and having more desaturation events than usual. Toward the end of the day, I had a feeling something was off, and Bethel was quick to validate my concerns. Near the end of her shift, she called the physician to evaluate her, even though it meant extra charting and potentially extending her workday slightly. 
 
Several weeks later, Bethel had to advocate for my twins again when both began to show signs of feeding intolerance. What started as mild fussiness quickly turned into constant crying, straining, and discomfort. They were gassy, irritable, and having trouble sleeping. I hadn’t yet voiced my concerns to the team when Bethel noted their demeanor had changed from weeks before. It was validating to hear that someone else saw their discomfort and comforting to hear the words, “I advocated for your kids.” She shared that she suspected they were experiencing feeding intolerance and had expressed her concerns to the physician on duty. When the doctor didn’t seem immediately concerned, Bethel wasted no time seeking out articles and sending them to herself to follow up later. She reassured me that we would get it sorted out because, as she always says, “The squeaky wheel gets greased.” 
 
With that validation and Bethel’s support, I began expressing my concerns to the doctors as well. Each time I felt dismissed, she was there to listen and encourage me to keep going. After several days, we were finally able to make a change to their diet that resulted in them being significantly more comfortable and calm. On the day the decision was made, Bethel was not assigned to my twins, but she had already relayed the situation to our nurse and ensured everyone was aware of the plan. She even stayed nearby throughout the morning, ready to speak up or step in if we needed her. 
 
Another quality that makes Bethel so exceptional is the trust she builds with her patients, especially with our little girl. She struggled with reflux and feeding issues, which often made her more difficult to feed. It felt like many nurses were pressed for time and would stop trying after the first sign of resistance and simply note that she wasn’t making progress, but not Bethel. She took the time to learn her cues and understood that she simply needed more patience and frequent burping breaks. She made herself completely comfortable with Bethel, and only Bethel. She would wiggle her foot out of her swaddle and prop it on Bethel’s arm during her feeds. One day, I came in to find her and Bethel taking turns sticking their tongues out at each other before a feed. 
 
Our family will always be grateful for the care and compassion Bethel showed to our twins. She not only provided exceptional nursing care but also gave us comfort, confidence, and peace of mind when we needed it most