The night I delivered, Ashelynne was my nurse and from the minute she walked in the room the whole experience changed! When she came in and introduced herself she also took a minute to get to know us and a little about our baby, all the things she probably could have found of on the records but she came and asked us making it a more personable experience! She was beyond kind. She sat with me and helped me count during contractions and also helped distract me. When my baby's heart rate dropped and I started panicking she was not only helping resolve the issue but she was doing her best to keep me calm and explain what they were doing and how it would help. When I could no longer bear the pain but was scared of the epidural she didn't pressure me into it, she just talked me through the pros and cons. Then when it was time to do the epidural she was holding my hand and supporting me. When the talk of a C-section started and I was panicking she stayed in the room with my husband and me and helped us understand why it was needed and what exactly was about to happen. She used terms we would actually understand and also made connections with us to help ease the anxiety. During the delivery, any chance she got to peek her head around the sheet or squeeze my hand she took and it was the most comforting thing. I was blown away at how amazing she was... not only as a nurse but as a person. She made the whole experience something so much more positive and kept us optimistic. She has such a bright spirit, I'm so thankful she was our nurse. For her service alone I'd deliver all of my children here (though I'm not planning on having anymore).
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LTJG Sakkaleak is an amazing addition to labor and delivery and I am very proud to call her my colleague. She was a cheerleader in her formative years, and it shows. She is always positive and motivating her fellow colleagues and her patients.
What better place is there for her to work when she can cheer on our military moms as they accomplish one of the hardest athletic feats of their life: pushing out their newborn baby?