It has taken me almost two months to write this nomination, but I wanted to be sure Evelyn gets the recognition she deserves. Evelyn was the nurse for my brother and sister-in-law when they got the gut-wrenching news at their 37-week appointment that their baby no longer had a heartbeat. From the moment they arrived at the hospital, scared and heartbroken, Evelyn was right there by their side, making it known that she would be there for them. She immediately took them back to a room to calm them down, then came back out and spoke with all of our family to tell us what the next step was. We were scared. We were a mess. I have no idea how someone could act the way she did in moments like that, but Evelyn was a rockstar. She was truly our rock. She was calm, informative, and compassionate. I believe it takes a special kind of person to be a labor and delivery nurse, but it takes an even more special person to be a labor and delivery nurse who can be your friend, a hand to hold, and a teacher through a tough and a whole new, unexpected experience.

As a nurse myself, I can't imagine having to be such a strong individual for two very scared first-time parents. Evelyn had taken so much time speaking with my brother and sister-in-law at all hours of the day about their options, what to expect with certain things, and ways to cope. Step by step, they knew exactly what to expect, thanks to Evelyn. While doing that, she also made the time to talk to our family and teach us since this was new to us all as well. It meant a lot that she was so willing to involve the whole family but still prioritized my brother, sister-in-law, and my angel nephew. You could really see the care in Evelyn's heart each time she entered the room. Even outside of the room, she was available.

She made us feel validated. Seen. Loved. Supported. I couldn't have asked for a better nurse to take care of three very special people in my life. I can't thank her enough for what she did and what she continues to do. Evelyn participates in and runs support groups for bereavement, and that really helps my brother and sister-in-law through this tragedy. It provides so much comfort for them to see a familiar face and be able to share those moments with someone else. Their last support group was just a few days ago, and they were overwhelmed with love and sadness because of the way Evelyn was talking about their precious angel. An exact quote from my sister-in-law, "It was comforting knowing she saw him too and could share about our experience during labor because it made him feel more alive and seen." It breaks my heart to know what these two are going through, but it helps pick up the broken pieces, knowing Evelyn is there for them.