I would like to recognize Nicole because she represents everything a nurse should be, especially in moments of profound vulnerability, grief, and love.

I was pregnant with twins and experienced the loss of one baby during gestation. From the moment I met Nicole, she was exceptionally kind, calm, and fully present. There was a gentleness about her that immediately made me feel safe. She didn't rush, she didn't minimize, and she didn't treat my situation like another delivery. She treated me like a person going through one of the most complex moments of my life.

Before it was time to deliver, I spoke with Nicole about my wishes. Specifically, I did not want to see my baby, who had passed, because I knew it would be too emotionally overwhelming for me.

As I tried to explain this, I unexpectedly broke down into tears. I had prepared myself to be strong, but when the moment became real, everything hit me hard at once. No one is ever truly prepared to meet both their living baby and their baby who has passed on at the same time.

Nicole's response was immediate and deeply compassionate. She gently placed her hand on my shoulder, comforted me, and reassured me that whatever I wanted, she would honor. She validated my feelings, expressed genuine sorrow, and made it clear that my comfort, autonomy, and emotional well-being were her priority. In that moment, she embodied compassion, beneficence, and respect for autonomy. I felt seen, understood, and protected.

Throughout my delivery, Nicole continuously encouraged me. Afterward, she told me how amazing I did and how proud she was of me. Those words meant more than she will ever know.

She also took the time to explain resources and told me she would make sure I received the paperwork needed for my baby to be cremated, as that was my wish.

By the end of the day, it was around 9:00 p.m. Her shift was already over, and in the exhaustion and emotional fog of the day, I had forgotten about the paperwork.

Nicole had stayed late charting, and despite being off the clock, she came back to my room and personally brought me the documents. She remembered. She followed through.

That action speaks volumes. As a nurse myself, I recognized this as fidelity and veracity: doing exactly what you say you are going to do, even when it would be easy not to. She didn't forget, she didn't delegate it away, and she didn't let my needs fall through the cracks. She honored her word.

Nicole went above and beyond during one of the hardest moments of my life, while also being present for one of the most beautiful moments: the birth of my child. She balanced grief and joy with extraordinary grace.

I became a nurse because I still remember how the nurses made me feel when I delivered my first baby. That experience stayed with me and shaped the kind of nurse I wanted to become. Nicole is a living reminder of that calling. She represents the nurse I strive to be and the standard I wish every patient could experience.

I intentionally did not tell her that I am a nurse. I wanted to see who she was simply as a caregiver, and she exceeded every expectation.

Not everyone is fortunate enough to receive care as I did, and that is exactly why Nicole deserves to be recognized. She didn't just take care of me; she made a lasting impact on my life. That is what nursing truly is.