June 2021
Katie
Odom
,
RN
Family Birth Center
Franklin Woods Community Hospital
Johnson City
,
TN
United States
She... took the time to describe her facial features/hair to me since I so desperately wished I could just hold my baby and take her features in myself
I checked in for induction. Despite all efforts, I did not seem to be reacting to the induction measures.
Katie was an absolute angel. I'm tearing up even now trying to express how grateful I am to have had her by my side for the evening and the following morning. When I learned I still was not progressing late the evening, I was frustrated and scared. (some background: My father specialized in medical malpractice birth cases when he was alive and I couldn't help but be flooded with "what ifs" that I had learned from his cases. I didn't tell Katie or anyone of the specific root of my anxieties.) Katie did not hesitate to spend the extra time to listen to all of my questions and concerns. She counseled me where she could and made sure I was aware of my options. All signs pointed to me and my baby being healthy and able to wait out the induction, but I couldn't shake the feeling of something not being right and needing to deliver. I decided to request to proceed with a C-section. I felt as though my provider wasn't very supportive of the decision but Katie never wavered. I felt like she was truly in my corner supporting my right to decision-making in my care. I was relieved to know she would also be in the OR with me.
I had difficulties with the anesthesia (still could feel quite a bit and move my legs), but Katie and the nurse anesthetist were great in guiding me through it. My daughter was born and I was only able to see her for a moment before they rushed her off for evaluation. I was told there were issues with her breathing that they needed to assess. Katie helped wheel me back to my room and again counseled and comforted me. She left to go and check on my daughter and came back to give me an update. She let me know that a neonatologist from JCMC was on the way to assess her. She also took the time to describe her facial features/hair to me since I so desperately wished I could just hold my baby and take her features in myself.
Later on, the neonatologist arrived and informed me that my daughter had a pneumothorax and would require transfer to the NICU. Distraught doesn't even begin to describe how I felt, but Katie consoled me and provided a shoulder to cry on. It is hard to put into words how her kindness and caring heart affected me. I can't imagine having to go through this experience without her.
Katie was an absolute angel. I'm tearing up even now trying to express how grateful I am to have had her by my side for the evening and the following morning. When I learned I still was not progressing late the evening, I was frustrated and scared. (some background: My father specialized in medical malpractice birth cases when he was alive and I couldn't help but be flooded with "what ifs" that I had learned from his cases. I didn't tell Katie or anyone of the specific root of my anxieties.) Katie did not hesitate to spend the extra time to listen to all of my questions and concerns. She counseled me where she could and made sure I was aware of my options. All signs pointed to me and my baby being healthy and able to wait out the induction, but I couldn't shake the feeling of something not being right and needing to deliver. I decided to request to proceed with a C-section. I felt as though my provider wasn't very supportive of the decision but Katie never wavered. I felt like she was truly in my corner supporting my right to decision-making in my care. I was relieved to know she would also be in the OR with me.
I had difficulties with the anesthesia (still could feel quite a bit and move my legs), but Katie and the nurse anesthetist were great in guiding me through it. My daughter was born and I was only able to see her for a moment before they rushed her off for evaluation. I was told there were issues with her breathing that they needed to assess. Katie helped wheel me back to my room and again counseled and comforted me. She left to go and check on my daughter and came back to give me an update. She let me know that a neonatologist from JCMC was on the way to assess her. She also took the time to describe her facial features/hair to me since I so desperately wished I could just hold my baby and take her features in myself.
Later on, the neonatologist arrived and informed me that my daughter had a pneumothorax and would require transfer to the NICU. Distraught doesn't even begin to describe how I felt, but Katie consoled me and provided a shoulder to cry on. It is hard to put into words how her kindness and caring heart affected me. I can't imagine having to go through this experience without her.