A week after my daughter was born, I wound up in the hospital again with postpartum pre-eclampsia. I had to bring my daughter, as she was nursing. To be admitted back into OB/GYN, my husband had to be with me. The treatment I was receiving was a mag IV for 24 hours, which saps your strength and cognizance. Unfortunately, the second night I was there, it snowed for the first time that year, and my husband had to stay home with our 1.5-year-old son because my mom couldn't make it to our house through the snow. Here I was, in the hospital by myself, alone, recovering from a C-section a week previous, with a week-old baby, on an IV drip of magnesium sulfate. I could barely pick up my daughter or hold her to nurse her. She was an extremely colicky newborn. I was exhausted, sick, in pain, weak, hot, and everything else in between.

Katie, my nurse during this experience, helped me so incredibly much. As I lay limply on my hospital bed, crying, she held my daughter. She helped me hold her so I could nurse. She helped wipe my tears and keep me calm. She reassured me all was well, and everything was fine when I started in with a panic attack due to feeling like I couldn't breathe (thanks, Mag.) She listened to my fears and unnecessary anxieties and took care of a tired, alone, scared, and weak mother and a brand-new colicky baby with extreme love, patience, and tenderness. A massive, huge, and heartfelt thank you to her. I wish I could say this in person. She made the whole ordeal survivable. I don't think she was supposed to help with my daughter, as she was not the patient there for care, but she did anyway. I honestly don't know what I would have done without her. I could barely lift my daughter out of her bassinet next to me, much less hold her against me while trying to nurse her. I often think about Katie and that traumatizing experience that she so wonderfully helped me through. Thank you, Katie!

Additional nomination for Katie: Katie went above and beyond when I was in labor with my son. She didn’t hesitate to do anything and was on top of everything. She ensured my fiancé and I were okay and had everything we needed. She held my other hand and let me squeeze her hand. She was an amazing nurse who checked on us and our baby boy constantly.