I am a patient who might be considered challenging by some providers. This is because I have a history of childhood medical trauma. For a long time, I was afraid to pursue pregnancy because of this. However, I eventually decided to try, and it has been a difficult journey. As I transferred care from the fertility clinic to my regular OB office, my first appointment was with a midwife who was not familiar with my medical history. She did not address my questions regarding labor and delivery, stating that it was "too early to worry about that." I then changed my care to my regular OB doctor, who is lovely but focuses more on answering my questions and helping to alleviate my anxiety. I was feeling quite discouraged and very anxious about all of this when I went to my prenatal lactation consultation appointment with Denise Lenardson. I noticed immediately how Denise had a loving and kind presence about her. She was not in a hurry, and she took the time to understand me as a person. She was unconditionally loving, encouraging, and positive. She may have been aware of my history from reading my chart, but she did not make my anxiety the focus of the visit. She accepted where I was and treated me like the most normal patient in the world. She went above and beyond to make me feel accepted, encouraged, loved, and empowered. Even though this was a lactation consultation, Denise asked how the pregnancy was going, if we had a name picked out, and how I was feeling about labor and delivery. I told her how I was struggling to think that a low-intervention birth would be possible in the hospital setting. She affirmed my desires and told me that I could do this instead of trying to justify medical interventions and pressure me to accept them. I left the visit feeling like a weight had been lifted and that perhaps birth wasn't something to be quite as afraid of as I have been. I ended up ugly crying with my husband later that day, and he was pretty confused because all I could say about why I was crying was, "She was just so nice and encouraging!" I had not realized up until I met Denise that this is what I was missing: the simple act of a health care professional loving me for who I am, affirming my desires for my care, and empowering and encouraging me in those desires. She truly made a difference to me in how I am moving forward thinking about my labor and delivery experience, trying to shift from anxiety and dread to empowerment and positivity. I am genuinely grateful for Denise's kindness and compassion.