In April, I no longer felt any fetal movement and went to the ER. I was brought to L&D and my first contact was with Nurse Jody. I told her what was going on and she quickly begun asking all the right questions and offering positive words. She was not able to find a heartbeat with the belts and directly asked the provider to get a bedside ultrasound. At that point I was surrounded by an amazing group of women. The provider told me everything she was looking at on the ultrasound, with clear communication and that she no longer saw any heart activity. My world went blank. I do not even remember what I said or did, but I do remember the many hands that held me and cried with me.

The Doctor ordered another ultrasound for confirmation and from that point on, Jody and A never left my side. My husband was on a work detail in Kansas and my mother was watching my other two daughters, so I initially thought I had to do this alone, but that is not at all what happened. Jody took me under her wing as if I was her own daughter, as did A, who I believe was new to the unit but still displayed amazing kindness and professionalism at the same level as Jody.

Jody called the Catholic Church that my family belongs to, and had our Priest come; she took care of everything. I never wanted for anything, I never had to feel like I was taking away from their time with other patients, and the nurses gave me time with my daughter, keepsakes, and pictures that I will forever treasure. She made my baby and I matching bracelets with my baby's name on them. I hold those every day and I am so grateful to have that. It is something so simple, but thoughtful beyond words. No one knows what to do in the case of a stillborn, but they guided me through everything. They went above and beyond any call of duty especially Jody.

Even going out of their way to go get supplies at Hobby Lobby and making clay imprints of my daughter's hands and feet. The quality of care was amazing. I never thought I would ever go through something like this and with my own medical background, I know Jody truly went above and beyond just patient care. I was always offered options, talked to with kindness and respect and they treated my daughter with such care that I knew when we left the hospital without my daughter, that until the mortuary would come for her body, I did not have to worry about anything happening to my baby. They protected her and treated me like they were my family.

When we went to Tabors Mortuary to begin all the paperwork and preparations for my baby, I found that all paperwork had been taken care of. The funeral coordinator informed me that the nurses took care of all the paperwork that way I could use that time at the funeral home to hold and be with my baby. That time with my baby will forever be an absolute gift to my family. I double checked all the paperwork and everything was correct. Jody did everything, thought of everything. She made the hardest thing I have ever gone through feel like an experience draped in grace and kindness.

Jody is the kind of person that displays not just through words, but also actions of what being a nurse truly is. She cared for me medically with great professionalism, but it went beyond that. She made me feel like I was safe in a situation that is scary. Her confidence helped me feel at ease and calm, her guidance for A was one of being thoughtful and encouraging. I have worked around the country with many different providers and nurses. A lot of times nurses with experience are not able to reflect or remember what it is like to be new to a unit or to be a new nurse, but how she led A without a heavy hand, but a helpful one was very reassuring. It speaks to how kind she is.

Unfortunately, my family is being relocated to Kansas, but I truly wish I would be able to deliver my future babies under the care of such amazing nurses. Even after the experience of a stillborn, I would feel comfortable to continue growing my family while under the care of those at Platte Valley Hospital. Every staff member I came in contact with extremely professional and kind. I cannot express enough how amazing every single person has been.