Melonie Ojala
September 2023
Melonie
Ojala
,
RN
Labor and Delivery
Lankenau Medical Center
Wynnewood
,
PA
United States
I liked Mel so much and trusted her at every moment.
I am writing to offer the highest praise possible to Mel. Melonie came in fresh-eyed and energetic and by that time I had been in labor for several hours, so I was skeptical. I really don't have the words for how truly incredible Mel is. You can train nurses in practice and give them all the education and experience, but you can't teach humanity, kindness, empathy, positivity, genuineness, and discipline. All traits are clearly innate for Mel.
While the other nurses spent hours getting me to the point where I could finally push (and they were incredible at putting me in all sorts of positions and putting my doula to shame), it was Mel who was by my side for the 4 hours of pushing and ultimate OR prep. During the hours of pushing, Mel counted down every single push. Every single one, for 4 hours. She counted to 10 and I pushed 4 times, over and over again for 4 hours. We never stopped. Mel never left the room. She never left my side to grab a sip of water or take a break, and there were nurses who tried to relieve her as folks were invested in my outcome as I continued in the pushing stage for so long. Mel didn't flinch-she persisted. She locked in on my process, she helped me try different positions. She even respected my doula who showed up late in the game and well after Mel and I had found our rhythm pushing. In fact, I tried to tell my husband I didn't want my doula there anymore because I liked Mel so much and trusted her at every moment. I didn't need a doula, I had Mel. I suspect that Mel is young, which only means that she has an exceptional career ahead of her. But you would never question her age or experience level because of her professionalism. I tried to make jokes about pooping during pushing or other self-deprecating comments and Mel sort of rose above it-she wouldn't allow me to focus on distractions-she stayed focused on the task at hand, yet still made me feel completely comfortable and vulnerable in her presence. I will never forget Mel.
I ended up in labor for well over 30 hours and pushed for 4 before ending up in surgery-so it's an experience that most would have a lot to complain about. But all I could think about was how I could not have gotten through it without Mel. And my husband agrees. The caliber of the nurses we encountered, Mel being in a category all her own, set a standard that couldn't be matched when we settled into the postpartum recovery room for the next few days. I wish I weren't so sleep-deprived, as I'd write a much more eloquent statement, but before I fall deeper into the newborn vortex, I wanted to be certain to send you this feedback.
Again, each and every nurse who cared for me was amazing and I will share my positive feedback on every possible forum available. Thank you for giving me such a special experience. I'm 42 years old and after IVF, I suspect this baby will be my only. Your staff made me, my husband, and our new family feel like we had the best care a mother could ask for. There are no words to adequately express my gratitude. I am forever indebted and Mel is deserving of this DAISY Award.
While the other nurses spent hours getting me to the point where I could finally push (and they were incredible at putting me in all sorts of positions and putting my doula to shame), it was Mel who was by my side for the 4 hours of pushing and ultimate OR prep. During the hours of pushing, Mel counted down every single push. Every single one, for 4 hours. She counted to 10 and I pushed 4 times, over and over again for 4 hours. We never stopped. Mel never left the room. She never left my side to grab a sip of water or take a break, and there were nurses who tried to relieve her as folks were invested in my outcome as I continued in the pushing stage for so long. Mel didn't flinch-she persisted. She locked in on my process, she helped me try different positions. She even respected my doula who showed up late in the game and well after Mel and I had found our rhythm pushing. In fact, I tried to tell my husband I didn't want my doula there anymore because I liked Mel so much and trusted her at every moment. I didn't need a doula, I had Mel. I suspect that Mel is young, which only means that she has an exceptional career ahead of her. But you would never question her age or experience level because of her professionalism. I tried to make jokes about pooping during pushing or other self-deprecating comments and Mel sort of rose above it-she wouldn't allow me to focus on distractions-she stayed focused on the task at hand, yet still made me feel completely comfortable and vulnerable in her presence. I will never forget Mel.
I ended up in labor for well over 30 hours and pushed for 4 before ending up in surgery-so it's an experience that most would have a lot to complain about. But all I could think about was how I could not have gotten through it without Mel. And my husband agrees. The caliber of the nurses we encountered, Mel being in a category all her own, set a standard that couldn't be matched when we settled into the postpartum recovery room for the next few days. I wish I weren't so sleep-deprived, as I'd write a much more eloquent statement, but before I fall deeper into the newborn vortex, I wanted to be certain to send you this feedback.
Again, each and every nurse who cared for me was amazing and I will share my positive feedback on every possible forum available. Thank you for giving me such a special experience. I'm 42 years old and after IVF, I suspect this baby will be my only. Your staff made me, my husband, and our new family feel like we had the best care a mother could ask for. There are no words to adequately express my gratitude. I am forever indebted and Mel is deserving of this DAISY Award.