Melynda is an incredible nurse. She is a huge patient advocate and a future leader on our floor. Melynda is an awesome, shining example of what a nurse should be!

Just like other areas of the nursing profession our area has good days and challenging days. Most people see Labor and Delivery as a joyous unit because we help create families by bringing life into the world. But, there is another side of Labor and Delivery that no one likes to talk about and that every family prays they never go through: that is when there is a loss of an infant. Unfortunately this happened to a family Melynda cared for on Mother's Day weekend.

It's an understatement to say that she gave exceptional care; it's an understatement to say that she demonstrated love and compassion to this family. Not to discredit any of our amazing doctors, but watching Melynda care for this patient exposed one of the main differences between nursing and medicine: empathy. I know her beautiful, tender heart ministered greatly to this family in their time of loss. Her human touch of grieving with this family was more powerful than any drug prescribed.

This family will never forget the loss of their child, but I know in my heart, they will never forget the glimmer of joy they experienced by having Melynda as their nurse. I will never forget it, either.