Maricruz Gonzalez was the nurse who helped me through one of the hardest days of my life: delivering my stillborn daughter. My husband and I struggled with fertility issues for three years before we conceived my daughter through IVF. She was our miracle baby, and we were so, so excited for her. We found out that she passed away the day after Christmas at 18 weeks and three days gestation. Maricruz was my nurse the night we came in, and it was busy in the unit. I could hear women laboring for their living babies, and my heart ached. Maricruz made herself available to me at any moment I needed her, even through the busy night. She was kind to us, offered us comfort and clarity when needed, and helped convince me to hold my girl, which was not something I thought I wanted, but I'm so grateful for now, after all this time.

Fast forward to this year, I asked Maricruz to help us deliver our rainbow IVF baby, and she gladly accepted the request! She even brought us a gift for our baby girl and was just absolutely wonderful to us yet again. My husband felt so relieved to know that Maricruz was with us again. We cannot sing her praises enough. She did not end up in the delivery room, but she came to visit us when she was back later in the week in our postpartum room, and it just felt like such good closure for what we've been through. I cannot praise Maricruz enough for the comfort and love she gave us in our darkest and brightest moments!