The day after we got home from delivering our baby, she turned blue in her car seat for a few seconds. We went to the hospital per our pediatrician's recommendation and while being evaluated our baby had another two back-to-back apnea episodes. This was terrifying for us as first-time parents and we felt helpless and completely devastated. Our daughter ended up being intubated and admitted into the PICU where she underwent a week of tests to try to find a diagnosis.

The room was dark and cold, and being there felt so eerie. I was still recovering from a severe tear, but I couldn’t bear to leave my daughter’s side.

The morning after we arrived, we woke up to find our nurse, Mercedes. She was the first friendly and kind face we’d encountered since arriving. Immediately she asked me how I was doing and made sure I had some supplies to tend to my postpartum needs. When I arrived, I had nothing with me, and she managed to get me everything I needed to pump and care for my wounds. She even got a hospital pump and walked me through the basics to make sure I was keeping up with my milk supply. This woman was an absolute angel, and we had the pleasure of having her as our nurse almost the entire time we were there.

We talked to so many doctors and healthcare professionals, but she treated us like real people. When we had questions, she answered them with patience and compassion. We were probably annoying at times when machines would go off, we’d get frantic. She never once made us feel like we were a burden. I had almost reached my breaking point halfway through our stay and pushed to get the opportunity to hold my daughter. I will never be able to thank her for the comfort and peace she brought us. I could go on and on all day, about how wonderful she is. She is a big part of what got us through that time. Today our baby girl is happy, healthy, and thriving.