Jena was the smiling face to greet us as I ventured into maternity without my baby after a long induction and fast labor. My son was born fast. With only 45 minutes of pushing, he entered this world too quickly for his little body. After 2 hours skin-to-skin, they took him across the room to measure him and weigh him. They noticed his breathing was retracting and were quick to assess him as needing a little extra care in the NICU; therefore, he was taken by a great team of nurses and treated. That meant dad went with baby, and I was left with my mother-in-law to wheel me over to maternity.

Jena was there with a smile and kindness. I was distraught, just giving birth to our rainbow baby after losing our daughter to Spina Bifida. I felt like someone took my organs out of me as I sat in maternity without my baby. Jena was there to help me to the bathroom, where I struggled to walk and use the bathroom. In those tender moments of emotions and realization that I was no longer pregnant, I felt surges of emotion. Jena allowed me to go straight to the NICU to check on the baby. She wheeled me down and led me straight to my husband and sweet boy.

He was discharged later that day with a clean bill of health. Jena was my day nurse for the next two days. This is where she continued to deliver the most kind, loving care. The med checks, apple juice runs, and answering all the questions of a first-time mom. She was the sunshine on the floor of nurses. I am still raving about the stay I had in maternity. Jena made that possible with her kind demeanor and knowledgeable care. I asked her how long she had been a nurse, thinking it had been a decade, and she said a little over a year. I was floored. She radiates all that The DAISY Award stands for.

I genuinely hope that you will consider this short story as a nomination for Jena. She was amazing, and I would recommend her to any of my family and friends who are having babies.