My sister recently delivered her 4th baby and what was supposed to be a "par for the course" delivery took a turn postpartum. It was a good couple hours after she delivered and her 3 sons were in the room to meet their baby sister for the first time, along with our mom and dad. Her husband had stepped out momentarily to grab a bite to eat, leaving me to be her sidekick.

Desiree O'Brien was very cognizant of the boys (ages 4-12) being in the room and handled the situation with such professionalism. She maintained my sister's privacy the entire time. Both Dez and the other nurse kept calm. Her composed manner kept my sister relaxed during what could have been a very scary time.

At just the right time she announced to those in the room that it was time to leave. She was again mindful that children were in the room and directed them away from the side of the bed. She allowed the boys to say goodbye and jumped back into action, all the while keeping my sister informed of her every step. Once things settled down, she acknowledged what my sister had just gone through and commended her for being so strong. She sang her praise for remaining calm throughout the entire ordeal.

Being an RN myself, I understand that this was probably just another day on the job for Dez. Too often we become desensitized to high risk situations and lose sight of the fact of just how important our jobs are. Dez exemplifies what nursing is all about. She not only looked at my sister as the patient, but she took into account her family. She showered my sister with kindness, compassion and respect. I can say with 100% certainty that Dez made a lasting impression on my sister and our family.