Jackie was caring for an unexpected new young mother, not even a day after learning she was in labor with a baby after a terrible sexual assault 9 months ago. The mother was in shock, exhausted, and unsure how to go on. Jackie cared for this new mom like she was her daughter, giving her all the love, support, and empowerment she needed to make an unimaginably difficult decision.

The patient decided to give her baby up for adoption, which the patient wasn't sure was the right decision. But Jackie supported her patient fiercely. She cried tears of difficulty with her patient as she signed the adoption paperwork, and cried tears of joy with her when the patient met the prospective adoptive new parents that the patient hand-picked for the first time. She advocated for the patient when others expressed concerns about the mother making the right decision. Jackie was the exact nurse this patient needed on one of the toughest days of her life.

While everyone was worried about caring for the baby, Jackie took the time to show the patient how to be a mom, even though the baby wouldn't be legally hers. She taught the patient that she matters too, and how to handle the changes her body was undergoing postpartum. I am sure this patient will never forget how big of an impact Jackie made on her and that she can look back on those first few days of motherhood and think of Jackie’s loving, smiling face.