To preface, my husband and I found out we were expecting our 1st baby. We were overjoyed, but I was also very scared to lose this happiness we’d just found. Family and friends were ecstatic, already loving our child-to-be. I switched over to RAMC from another local healthcare organization, seeking better/more available OB care. I first saw Dr. H, where she acknowledged my worries regarding this pregnancy. She was incredibly attentive and comforting, wanting to be able to reassure us. She ordered an ultrasound, which started the worst week of my husband’s and my lives, when we were informed that our baby no longer had a heartbeat.

To add to the stress and emotions, my body was not catching on, so I knew I was probably going to have to undergo surgery to even begin healing. This gave me extreme anxiety on top of the already overwhelming and devastating feelings I was having toward our situation in general. Dr. H and her team checked in multiple times over the days leading up to surgery, ensuring I had the care/support I needed. I was supposed to be going into my 10th week of pregnancy; instead, I was having my baby removed from me. Surgery day started very scary/stressful, and I just kept thinking that I didn’t want to have to remember today. I fully expected it to be traumatic at the very least. I was brought a small amount of comfort after talking with K, CRNA. He reassured me that he was confident he could care for me and that things would go smoothly. He listened to all my worries and had great bedside manner, taking the edge off all the stress. I also met with Dr. N one more time, where he provided positive, hopeful, and caring energy.

Lastly, I met Brandon, RN, who would be with me in the OR. He immediately knew how to lighten the mood and made me feel safe. In the moments I expected to be the most scared, I found myself calm, casually discussing the good parts of my life as I drifted off to sleep. Overall, I can confidently say that this day wasn’t traumatic in any of the ways I expected, and the care I received on my surgery day went above and beyond my expectations. As an RN myself, I truly feel I walked away with a new experience, which will help me be a better nurse as well. While this week will not be a good memory, the people who showed up for me will always be good, including my entire medical/surgery team. My husband and I will forever be grateful for the care we received/continue to receive as we hope to walk away one day with a healthy baby.