I almost died in childbirth with a class 4 hemorrhage after giving birth to my almost-4-week early baby girl. My baby was struggling to gain weight at first, and dropped to 4 lb., 8 oz. (or less), and had to stay in the nursery for 8 days. If it hadn't been for Cheryl, and literally every one ofher nurses, I don't think I would have been comfortable leaving the hospital without my baby after *I* was discharged.

Cheryl was there for me the whole time, cheered me up, took care of my baby girl like she was her own, and did a thousand other things I appreciate and probably don't even know about. She comforted me on days I couldn't take her home; she went above and beyond to make sure I had the privacy to pump and access to my daughter as much as possible. She kept me updated on every little thing in a way that I could understand, and in a way that felt like she really, really cared.

Every time I walked in and saw Cheryl in my daughter's room, I breathed a sigh of relief. Not because I don't love the other nurses, but because I trusted Cheryl the most, and I knew nothing would happen to my baby, and she wouldn't be ignored or anything like that with her there. Also, when I had to bring my autistic 5-year-old in, Cheryl was so amazing with her, didn't seem even the slightest bit annoyed (even though I was annoyed with my own daughter, ha). She got books for her to read and graham crackers; got on her level, answered all of her 10000 questions. That meant the world, too.

Cheryl also answered my million questions and really taught me a lot about my own child (which sounds crazy, but the lady knows her stuff!). She had tips and tricks that I never would have thought to try, even, and we figured out things that worked for my daughter specifically when my baby struggled with something (like eating). I honestly wish I could gift Cheryl something incredibly large, as she definitely deserves it. She was just as amazing and attentive with the child/family we shared a room with. If I could, I would. But she really, really, absolutely deserves this award ten times over.