Jenny Shelton
May 2026
Jenny
Shelton
,
RN
Labor and Delivery
Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital
Tullahoma
,
TN
United States
I think back to that day and how many things I did not have to do because she stepped up.
My story with Jenny goes back three years, to my first time in labor, when she helped me deliver my baby girl. She was amazing, and every time I told my daughter’s birth story, Jenny and her caring heart were at the center of it.
Fast forward almost three years; I was 39 weeks pregnant, and my baby boy was breech. The pregnancy had gone great, and I did not expect any complications at this point. I decided with my doctor to do a transversion and try to flip him, then induce me. We got to the OR, and before the procedure even started, my son's heart rate dropped to 83.
An emergency C-section was performed, and again, I found Jenny at my side, walking me through and helping me with everything. Unfortunately, my son's heart rate continued to drop, and they were unable to get him to recover. He passed 30 minutes after birth. My husband and I were devastated. This is when the nurses at Harton became our saviors.
My son did not make it, but every nurse was so caring toward us. One nurse went far beyond what she should have, though, and that was Jenny. She called the funeral homes for us. Made arrangements for his burial. She called the medical examiner to arrange for the autopsy and made sure it was paid for. She made sure we had all the mementos we wanted. Because of her and her efforts, I had very little to worry about besides taking care of myself and mourning my son.
I think back to that day and how many things I did not have to do because she stepped up. She filled a role I did not know I even needed filled until I looked back and saw all that I did not have to do. I can never repay her for what she did and the way she took care of us. The amount of work that she did to make sure that everything was taken care of. She made sure we had handprints, footprints, photos, and so many little things that all the nurses made for us with his name on them.
Then Jenny left the hospital, took care of her family, and came back to check on me and make sure a relative was with me all night. My mom stayed that night, but I truly believe Jenny would have sat with me all night if my mom were not there. That is just the type of nurse she is. That is why she will always be such a major part of our story with both births. I can truly never repay her, but I hope she knows how much it all meant to us.
***
This is Jenny's 2nd DAISY Award!
Fast forward almost three years; I was 39 weeks pregnant, and my baby boy was breech. The pregnancy had gone great, and I did not expect any complications at this point. I decided with my doctor to do a transversion and try to flip him, then induce me. We got to the OR, and before the procedure even started, my son's heart rate dropped to 83.
An emergency C-section was performed, and again, I found Jenny at my side, walking me through and helping me with everything. Unfortunately, my son's heart rate continued to drop, and they were unable to get him to recover. He passed 30 minutes after birth. My husband and I were devastated. This is when the nurses at Harton became our saviors.
My son did not make it, but every nurse was so caring toward us. One nurse went far beyond what she should have, though, and that was Jenny. She called the funeral homes for us. Made arrangements for his burial. She called the medical examiner to arrange for the autopsy and made sure it was paid for. She made sure we had all the mementos we wanted. Because of her and her efforts, I had very little to worry about besides taking care of myself and mourning my son.
I think back to that day and how many things I did not have to do because she stepped up. She filled a role I did not know I even needed filled until I looked back and saw all that I did not have to do. I can never repay her for what she did and the way she took care of us. The amount of work that she did to make sure that everything was taken care of. She made sure we had handprints, footprints, photos, and so many little things that all the nurses made for us with his name on them.
Then Jenny left the hospital, took care of her family, and came back to check on me and make sure a relative was with me all night. My mom stayed that night, but I truly believe Jenny would have sat with me all night if my mom were not there. That is just the type of nurse she is. That is why she will always be such a major part of our story with both births. I can truly never repay her, but I hope she knows how much it all meant to us.
***
This is Jenny's 2nd DAISY Award!