In order to better understand Gabby's spectacular role in our birthing experience at UC Davis, I want to first give a little background. When my wife was admitted to the birthing unit, we had an idea of how we wanted the birth to go and took time to think through every piece of the birth plan. We understood that birth plans aren't agendas and are merely wishes, but it couldn't have been more different from our wishes. Gabby was supporting us throughout much of our experience, especially towards the end when things got the toughest. Her empathetic and compassionate care and demeanor is something that can never be taught in a textbook or years of schooling: it's inherent and only the best nurses encompass those traits that make a good nurse a FANTASTIC nurse! Baby was having some alarming dips on the monitor, was OP, and in distress after over 3 hours of pushing, which eventually led to our last available option: a C-section. An emotional and helpless moment for both me and my wife. Tears and utter exhaustion finally set in, but Gabby was there to help aid me in that transition as I was left alone while my wife was wheeled off to the OR. From that point forward, Gabby barely left my side. I was exhausted, delirious, and extremely emotional seeing my wife in pain, and baby in distress. Baby came out unresponsive, rushed to the warming table, accompanied by what seemed like 100 helping hands. Sure enough, Gabby was still standing right by my side consoling and comforting me and translating the medical lingo. The medical staff brought my limp, purple, and apneic daughter back to life within minutes (although it seemed like an eternity to me). Gabby identified someone in need of support and care and stepped right in without batting an eye! Mind you, I'm not even the admitted patient, I'm just what is classified as a support person. There's definitely a changing tide in birthing support, from being solely a mother’s experience to being a shared one of both mother and father. Gabby is clearly already at the forefront of this, and I couldn't have gotten through it all without her! Thank you, thank you, thank you Gabby! Please never stop doing what you do, because you are an absolute natural, and patients and support people are in need of the compassionate care that you effortlessly provide! Gabby made my experience at UC Davis what it was, and I am forever grateful!