I want Linda to get a "bravo" and a standing ovation. She was the catalyst to making my stay at Oakwood a true "Miracle Moment". She was my nurse on January 14, 2014 and January 15, 2014, on the L&D Floor. After Linda heard me on the phone with my mom on January 15, 2014; I began to share my story with her.

My story started with the fact that I had been told by doctors for over ten years that I would not be able to have a child and that I had tried for many years to conceive to no avail. After giving up on the dream of motherhood two years prior I now found myself being induced three weeks before the expected due date of my first child...my miracle baby. I went on to tell her how tumultuous this pregnancy has been and why. Two days before I learned I was pregnant my very independent mother went into a coma, after what was supposed to be a simple outpatient procedure went wrong.

My mother spent weeks in a coma and once she regained consciousness she had to undergo several procedures to sustain her life and she spent over 6 months in the hospital. During my pregnancy, my mother had to have both her legs and one her arms amputated in addition to overcoming respiratory complications. At the time I was telling Linda this; my mother was finally out of the hospital in a physical rehabilitation home under medical/nurse assistance 24 hours a day. My mother had come a very long way and I told Linda that I wished my mom could be able to visit me here because she was not present for most of my pregnancy - at the time of my baby shower she was still in the hospital. I also mentioned that my mom was literally across the street from the hospital so it felt like she was so close yet so far.

Linda asked me "If we could make it possible for your mom to come over for a visit would you like that?" I said yes and she made another miracle come true after just a few phone calls. She first asked me the details of where/who my mom was. Then she spoke to someone on the L&D floor to explain the situation and called over to my mom's nurse as well to explain the situation. Linda learned through my mom's nurse that they had a transportation van for short trips upon approval and the two ladies worked efficiently to get this request approved in just over one hour. Linda then made sure that once my mom was inside the hospital all the details were set in place. The end result you ask, my mother was brought into my room on January 15, 2014 for a 30 minute visit with me while I was in labor. During this visit, Linda and a few of the other nurses on the L&D floor were present. With my permission, the nurses explained to my mom what was going on with me medically and that, at this rate, I am expected to deliver sometime on January 16, 2014.

One of the other nurses suggested that if I deliver on January 16th, then maybe we should request approval for another visit on January 17th, 2014 so that my mother can meet her first grandchild in person.

This became a reality - I delivered on January 16th and my mom was brought back on January 17, 2014 to see her first grandchild. Linda was not working on January 17th so a different nurse on the Mother/Baby Unit picked up the ball and assisted on that day.

Before being discharged I personally thanked Linda with tears in my eyes and in typing/submitting this "Thank you" I again have tears falling from my eyes in overwhelming appreciation.

I will carry the memories of those moments in my heart forever. THANK YOU!!!