Leah was the night shift NICU nurse who was present during the 2:00 am C-section to deliver my baby girl in July. When I think back on the 60 hours spent as a patient at Hillcrest, many caregivers made it a pleasant experience but Leah really stands out to me. After 26 hours of laboring at home, my contractions were finally close enough together that I could go to the hospital. Shortly after arriving, it was discovered that my baby was breech and I would have an unplanned C-section. In a whirlwind of green scrubs, I was prepped and whisked off to the OR. Having never had surgery before, I was absolutely panicked. As a nurse myself, I have worked in similar environments, but I can tell you that unexpectedly being on the table as a patient is an unnerving experience.
As the OR team prepped around me, Leah walked up and held my trembling hand as she introduced herself. Her kind, smiling eyes were reassuring as she explained the role she would play that morning. When my daughter was born and handed off to Leah, she was taking shallow breaths and required bagging for what felt like an eternity (but was probably less than a minute). My husband was near Leah's side and she acted quickly and calmly, all the while explaining everything she was doing and why this sometimes occurs with C-section babies. Being informed by someone knowledgeable and capable was reassuring to him. Fortunately, my daughter soon started taking deep breaths on her own and the three of us were taken to recovery.
Several weeks later, our new family of three ventured out to the grocery store for the first time. Who did we run in to but sweet Leah, who recognized us and even remembered my daughter's name! Having only seen her in a mask, I only recognized her by her kind eyes. We were able to meet Leah's sweet daughter as well. My husband and I were absolutely touched that she remembered us and our daughter.
I hope this story will show Leah how truly grateful we are to her for not only her nursing skill but also for being such a sweet person. As a fellow RN and employee of BSW Hillcrest, I really feel Leah exemplifies what it means to do sacred work and I am so proud that wonderful caregivers like Leah are part of our Hillcrest family. Thank you, Leah, I am so glad you're part of my daughter's birth story!