March 2026 Honoree
Delilah Smith, BSN
I went in for my routine NST appointment to check on the baby. I was not due to be induced yet. Due to the baby having decelerations that day, I was admitted around 5pm and induced sooner than we thought. I was not emotionally or mentally prepared for this circumstance.
My first night was spent in triage, and they began inducing me around 8 pm. The following morning I was finally transferred to a room in Labor and Delivery, and this is when I first met our amazing nurse Delilah Smith. From the moment she introduced herself, I knew we were in good hands. She calmed my nerves and helped me stay distracted by having heartfelt conversations about my personal life and experiences.
As the day continued, they tried more than one induction method, which just made me more and more anxious and agitated. Delilah made sure to explain how each method would help, and she didn’t mind having to explain everything numerous times to my partner and me, as well as my parents when they were present. When Delilah left for the night, she made sure to say goodnight and let us know she'd be back in a few hours the following day.
The following morning, I was in pain and in tears almost all day. Delilah held my hand and talked me through every cervical exam up until it came time to decide a C-section was the best option for us. When the doctor came in to tell us this was happening, Delilah was on break, and another nurse began prepping us for the OR. My partner was getting our things ready as instructed by the doctor and care team, and I was in shambles, shaking from all the hormones and medication.
Delilah walked back in and helped us finish getting ready. She explained that my partner would need to go prepare to meet us in the OR, and we would need to be separated for a brief moment. This terrified me, and she saw it. Delilah made sure to stick by my side the entire time. Right before they put me under anesthesia, Delilah grabbed my hands and hugged me and said words of affirmation and encouragement as I cried. She is exactly who I needed in that moment right before my partner joined us again.
Once our baby boy was here, it was finally smooth sailing, and I saw the beauty Delilah kept reminding me about. Delilah made sure that in this very long and scary experience I continued to see the beauty of it all. She kept me sane and comforted me the entire time. Delilah took it a step further and came to see us the morning before we were discharged. She held our little boy and then held me one last time. I will never forget Nurse Delilah, and our little one will be sure to know how important her role was in his birth story. She was so personable and definitely surpassed her role as a Nurse and became family.
My first night was spent in triage, and they began inducing me around 8 pm. The following morning I was finally transferred to a room in Labor and Delivery, and this is when I first met our amazing nurse Delilah Smith. From the moment she introduced herself, I knew we were in good hands. She calmed my nerves and helped me stay distracted by having heartfelt conversations about my personal life and experiences.
As the day continued, they tried more than one induction method, which just made me more and more anxious and agitated. Delilah made sure to explain how each method would help, and she didn’t mind having to explain everything numerous times to my partner and me, as well as my parents when they were present. When Delilah left for the night, she made sure to say goodnight and let us know she'd be back in a few hours the following day.
The following morning, I was in pain and in tears almost all day. Delilah held my hand and talked me through every cervical exam up until it came time to decide a C-section was the best option for us. When the doctor came in to tell us this was happening, Delilah was on break, and another nurse began prepping us for the OR. My partner was getting our things ready as instructed by the doctor and care team, and I was in shambles, shaking from all the hormones and medication.
Delilah walked back in and helped us finish getting ready. She explained that my partner would need to go prepare to meet us in the OR, and we would need to be separated for a brief moment. This terrified me, and she saw it. Delilah made sure to stick by my side the entire time. Right before they put me under anesthesia, Delilah grabbed my hands and hugged me and said words of affirmation and encouragement as I cried. She is exactly who I needed in that moment right before my partner joined us again.
Once our baby boy was here, it was finally smooth sailing, and I saw the beauty Delilah kept reminding me about. Delilah made sure that in this very long and scary experience I continued to see the beauty of it all. She kept me sane and comforted me the entire time. Delilah took it a step further and came to see us the morning before we were discharged. She held our little boy and then held me one last time. I will never forget Nurse Delilah, and our little one will be sure to know how important her role was in his birth story. She was so personable and definitely surpassed her role as a Nurse and became family.
Thank you, Delilah, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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