In October I was induced for labor with my second child. As my labor progressed, Eva Cherry, RN entered the room to assist one of her co-workers who was already helping me with my labor. Eva brought the most calming and peaceful presence with her. I wanted to have a natural delivery and around the time Eva entered I was struggling with that decision. I was begging to give up and was tearfully thinking I would end up with an epidural. I knew if I could stay calm I could do it but that was just the problem - I could not keep myself calm. Due to COVID, my mother/birth coach could not be with me. As the labor became more intense, I became more scared, upset, and felt less in control. I knew if my mom were there she would be helping me stay focused which just upset me even more. It was at that time that Eva came to my side and began to coach me to help me relax and bring me back to the focus of delivering my baby. Her voice was so calming and kind. She stayed right with me.
She and her co-worker worked like a well-oiled machine together. They kept the focus on me and I have never felt more important in my entire life. There was a point that Eva was sitting on the floor to hold the fetal monitor in place so I could be in the most comfortable position. Eva was so gentle and thoughtful and knew exactly how to rub my back and applying pressure to my hips for relief. She provided the care above and beyond what a birth coach would without hesitation without even having to ask.
As I started pushing to deliver, I felt myself losing all control. The labor was so fast and incredibly painful and I could not remain focused and calm any longer. I will never in my life forget the exact moment where I was going to give up. I cried out at the top of my lungs; I had given up. And at that exact moment amongst all the chaos that was racing through my mind, I heard this soft and calm voice call my name. I opened my eyes up and looking directly at me were the most calming blue eyes I had ever seen. It was Eva. She was right next to my face looking directly at me. She spoke to me in the calmest tone and had me keep eye contact with her. It was her actions that brought me back on track. It was the calm in her eyes that regained my focus and her coaching that helped me to finish labor and deliver my baby.
There are certain roles and responsibilities that a nurse must fulfill and believe me Eva did. But it was much more than that. Her training and education were certainly evident in her knowledge surrounding the delivery but her compassion, her dedication, and her kindness are what helped me get through that delivery. Eva stepped up into a role that was above and beyond the requirements of her job. She proved that her passion for her job is more than could ever be printed in a job description. The compassion, care, and love she showed me - an otherwise complete stranger - will never be forgotten. I will never forget the softness of her voice and the warmth of her eyes. She truly helped at a time when I thought I could not go on. Eva thank you for the extraordinary care that you provided to me, my baby, and my husband that day. Your kindness was more than we could have ever expected. Thank you for helping me take the most painful experience of my life and create it into the most joyous and happy experience. We appreciate everything you did for us that day and for treating us as if we were family. Your passion for nursing shines so bright and makes you stand out above the rest.