This past weekend I became a patient on my unit, Davis 3 Labor and Delivery. I have always known all of my co-workers are amazing nurses but seeing it as a patient in a life-altering moment is a very different experience. LeeAnna was my nurse when my 20-week-old daughter was born prematurely and died. She exemplified the union of competent professionalism with loving compassion. It is in the little details that make her an outstanding nurse and colleague. I will try to list a few examples of the many things she did while caring for me.

Firstly, she made my family members feel welcome and included in the grief process, something that is easy to overlook when providing care to the patient. LeeAnna made sure I was comfortable with the timing of events and coordinated everything professionally with the doctors. When my daughter was born she knew exactly the right words to say but also knew when to give my family and me private time together. She was able to find the perfect balance with her presence that made me feel extremely supported, but also able to grieve alone.

When it came time to take my baby to create a memory box, she held my daughter with such care and love. To LeeAnna, she wasn't just a fetus, but my baby, and I will never be able to thank her enough for that feeling. She managed my emotional health along with my medical health, as she worked with the doctors to troubleshoot a placenta issue, which prevented me from having to go to the OR for a procedure, enabling me to spend as much time with my baby as possible. I wish I could nominate all the nurses, but LeeAnna stands out as my delivery nurse. And I know she provides this same exceptional care to all her patients who are lucky enough to have her.