I was recently a patient on your unit, and have worked at Maine General Medical Center for the last 8 years as a registered nurse, and most recently as a family nurse practitioner. Although I left your unit with empty arms, I wanted to reach out and send my husband and my heartfelt gratitude to your nursing staff. They all provided us with exceptional care and were all sensitive to our tremendous loss. I am emailing you as I would like to nominate both Kristen Cooper, RN, and Patty Mosher, RN for a DAISY award. Both Patty and Kristen demonstrate strong Maine General values, commitment to excellence, and empathy, and provide exemplary care, compassion, professionalism, and advocacy. These two nurses embody what the DAISY Award represents, and what nurses should aspire to be. One day in October our world flipped upside down. I was brought to the labor and delivery unit with an incompetent cervix and went on to deliver our 19.5-week baby boy the following morning. Kristen was my night nurse and assisted with the delivery of our angel baby. The moment I met her that night as she came on shift, I immediately felt a calming presence on the most unfortunate and dreadful days of my life. Kristen was knowledgeable, extremely attentive, and cared for not only me, but my husband, and family physically, mentally, and emotionally while under her care. She worked diligently to keep me comfortable and answered all our questions and fears throughout the night, and the labor and delivery process.

Our sweet angel baby was born at 6:52 in the morning, a typically chaotic time due to the shift change. Patty was coming on shift as I began delivering. Both Kristen and Patty assisted my midwife with the delivery. Seeing both their human response to such a loss and hearing their words, let us know how authentic their hearts were, but it was the look in their eyes that validated this for us.

Patty was attentive to both my husband's and my physical and psychosocial needs. Patty cleaned our baby after delivery, placed Vaseline on his skin to keep his skin moist, and then wrapped him up and put him on my chest to cuddle. The most heart-wrenching moment of my life was also one of the most beautiful moments thanks to Patty. After a complication and a short trip to the OR, I returned to my room to find Patty there, comforting and talking with my husband while he held our baby. She made sure to fill out a birth certificate, had another nurse obtain our baby's hand and foot prints, and provided us with multiple keepsakes to remember our first baby. She also took the initiative to reach out to another nurse to get professional photos of our little family. Patty supported our wish in wanting to keep our baby at our bedside until discharge, and provided us with many resources to review in regard to infant loss and grief. She took the time to understand us, and was one of the first to lead us out of the isolation bereaved parents feel after losing a baby.

Kristen and Patty’s sensitivity to our situation made a difference in our experience while in the hospital. They both truly helped us through the darkest hours of our life, and we are forever grateful for their compassionate care, love, and support. We look forward to one day being in their care again, only with better outcomes.