Crystal Harrison, RN

My wife and I are international students here for my PhD, so we are far away from our home and support system. Going into this delivery, my wife was carrying a heavy burden. Her mother passed away just over a year ago. She was my wife’s rock during our first son’s birth in Nigeria while I was away, and the fear of giving birth without her mother’s voice and encouragement, even if just over the phone, was my wife’s biggest anxiety.

We prayed for help that night before our trip to the hospital, and we strongly believe Ms. Crystal Harrison was the answer to that prayer.

Crystal didn't just act like a nurse; she stepped in like the family we were missing. My wife was determined to have an unmedicated birth, which requires immense strength. Crystal honored that wish with absolute respect. She stayed right at the bedside, holding my wife's hand in her right, while I held her left, gripping tight through every wave of contraction. She didn't just tell her to breathe; she breathed with her to help manage the pain.

When the pain intensity peaked, Crystal brought hot pads, which were a game-changer for soothing my wife’s back pain. She kept the ice water pitchers coming, which brought immense relief during the hardest moments. She was our advocate, seamlessly coordinating the whole team (midwife, charge nurse, baby nurse) so we could stay calm.

She is obviously incredibly skilled at her job with top-notch professionalism, but what touched us was her heart. Crystal turned a moment we feared would be lonely into a beautiful victory, setting the tone for a 5-star experience at TidalHealth. She filled the gap my mother-in-law left behind, stepping in as the big, caring sister we needed while so far from home, and we will never forget how she cared for us as we welcomed our adorable baby.