Maureen Veau
January 2020
Maureen
Veau
,
RN
Labor and Delivery
UMass Memorial Medical Center
Worcester
,
MA
United States
My sister came to UMass Memorial Hospital to have her fourth baby. The three births before had been quite traumatic, one ending in a stillborn baby a few months after delivery. Dealing with diabetes, and them preeclampsia, she was understandably very nervous. She had gone directly to the hospital from a well mother check-up at her doctor's office. I was her Doula for the birth.
When we finally got placed in a birthing room, in came Maureen. She introduced herself and took the time to explain everything down to the smallest detail, showing no impatience or frustration at all the questions and concerns. As time went on, and the labor progressed, Mo was right by my sister's side, hardly taking the time to grab dinner or rest. From 3 in the afternoon, till the following morning, well after the time she was supposed to have gone home, she stayed. She literally held my sister's hand, face, feet, back, whatever needed holding at that moment.
Things ended up getting pretty scary, with the baby's heartbeat slowing down, but Mo never lost her cool. My sister was moved into surgery for a C-section but delivered vaginally right before surgery. Maureen stayed with her the entire time, I believe hours past her shift. She was first out to let me know what was going on! She made us coffee, she had us laughing. She was compassionate, loving, caring and fierce when she had to be. And doing all this while directing the other nurses and doctors. She was amazing.
As the eldest of 6, with three of my own, and lots of nieces and nephews, I have been at a lot of births. We had some good nurses in the past. They did their job and did it well. But Maureen made it into an experience, a joyful day. She put so much extra time, and intent into everything, I had to say something. There is no way she hasn't touched other people this way. I swear, at the end of the day, I could have been happy to call her sister. So, please, recognize this amazing woman. I said I would write her name on the moon for all to see, but maybe this is the next best thing.
When we finally got placed in a birthing room, in came Maureen. She introduced herself and took the time to explain everything down to the smallest detail, showing no impatience or frustration at all the questions and concerns. As time went on, and the labor progressed, Mo was right by my sister's side, hardly taking the time to grab dinner or rest. From 3 in the afternoon, till the following morning, well after the time she was supposed to have gone home, she stayed. She literally held my sister's hand, face, feet, back, whatever needed holding at that moment.
Things ended up getting pretty scary, with the baby's heartbeat slowing down, but Mo never lost her cool. My sister was moved into surgery for a C-section but delivered vaginally right before surgery. Maureen stayed with her the entire time, I believe hours past her shift. She was first out to let me know what was going on! She made us coffee, she had us laughing. She was compassionate, loving, caring and fierce when she had to be. And doing all this while directing the other nurses and doctors. She was amazing.
As the eldest of 6, with three of my own, and lots of nieces and nephews, I have been at a lot of births. We had some good nurses in the past. They did their job and did it well. But Maureen made it into an experience, a joyful day. She put so much extra time, and intent into everything, I had to say something. There is no way she hasn't touched other people this way. I swear, at the end of the day, I could have been happy to call her sister. So, please, recognize this amazing woman. I said I would write her name on the moon for all to see, but maybe this is the next best thing.