Maggie Williams
September 2014
Maggie
Williams
,
RN
Labor & Delivery
University Hospital
Augusta
,
GA
United States
In order to understand how special Maggie was to me and adequately express my gratitude,it's important for you know a little bit about the journey my husband and I have been on. We were married 7 years ago and a move to Jacksonville Florida for law school took us away. I worked at the Mayo Clinic as a labor and delivery nurse for almost 4 years.
It's my true passion. We began trying to have children almost 6 years ago and after a year realized we might have problems. Two years, surgery and many medicines later we realized that this was going to be no easy task for us. Prayers and patience we're getting us nowhere. At least that's what it felt like.
In December 2012 we found out that we would be having quads. We were both terrified. Three of our children, 2 boys and a girl made it to 21 and 22 weeks before being born alive and dying moments later in our arms. Devastation has never seemed so insignificant a word. For the first time in our life, God's "grace" that unexplained presence that holds us, guides us and protects us felt empty. It felt like we were without, literally abandoned.
I now work as a nurse for an Oncology office and my husband is a prosecuting attorney with the DA's Office. We deal with horror and despair for a living and can both say that nothing approaches this feeling. Watching a child you have hoped so hard for die in your arms. With two more to follow. At that point we grieved together. I attended church, yoga, traveled to Lake Tahoe for some much needed R&R. Upton my return, God's GRACE was back. And with healing came an unwavering determination to fight for a family, for a child no matter the loss. No matter the devastation.
Maggie knew of our loss, but she didn't know the details, the whole picture behind the sweet boy she helped bring into the world. But she cared, she treated me like a sister, like family. She looked me in the eye, she apologized for my loss. She recognized the emotions I felt given my history and knowledge of the labor process and the fear from knowing more than the average patient.
It's important to me that she is recognized for going above and beyond her duties assigned in her job description. Her demeanor and presence matched the calmness we desperately needed. I am forever grateful to her and the entire delivery team.
It's my true passion. We began trying to have children almost 6 years ago and after a year realized we might have problems. Two years, surgery and many medicines later we realized that this was going to be no easy task for us. Prayers and patience we're getting us nowhere. At least that's what it felt like.
In December 2012 we found out that we would be having quads. We were both terrified. Three of our children, 2 boys and a girl made it to 21 and 22 weeks before being born alive and dying moments later in our arms. Devastation has never seemed so insignificant a word. For the first time in our life, God's "grace" that unexplained presence that holds us, guides us and protects us felt empty. It felt like we were without, literally abandoned.
I now work as a nurse for an Oncology office and my husband is a prosecuting attorney with the DA's Office. We deal with horror and despair for a living and can both say that nothing approaches this feeling. Watching a child you have hoped so hard for die in your arms. With two more to follow. At that point we grieved together. I attended church, yoga, traveled to Lake Tahoe for some much needed R&R. Upton my return, God's GRACE was back. And with healing came an unwavering determination to fight for a family, for a child no matter the loss. No matter the devastation.
Maggie knew of our loss, but she didn't know the details, the whole picture behind the sweet boy she helped bring into the world. But she cared, she treated me like a sister, like family. She looked me in the eye, she apologized for my loss. She recognized the emotions I felt given my history and knowledge of the labor process and the fear from knowing more than the average patient.
It's important to me that she is recognized for going above and beyond her duties assigned in her job description. Her demeanor and presence matched the calmness we desperately needed. I am forever grateful to her and the entire delivery team.