Our firstborn, IR, was diagnosed with a condition incompatible with life in February of 2020 right before the world shut down. She decided to join us earthside in June of 2020 in the midst of shutdowns and hospital limitations. We were told we couldn’t have any of our family members join us for the night and the death of our daughter in the hospital. Enter Rebecca!

During labor, Rebecca tirelessly advocated for us and our family and deeply understood the importance of their role in this devastating event. When we got word that our families could be present for IR’s birth, Rebecca shared in our overwhelming joy. Throughout labor, we were scared for the unknown ahead of us, and each step of the way, Rebecca made us feel at ease and joyful. In a time of sorrow and isolation, Rebecca managed to make us feel like normal first-time parents excited to meet their daughter. When I was overcome with anxiety at being separated from my husband during an epidural, Rebecca held me and reassured every thought in my brain that I was too afraid to even say out loud.

When IR was born, Rebecca treated her with the utmost care and respect and truly filled my memory of those moments with nothing but bliss. With IR’s quick death, Rebecca treated her with the most dignity you could imagine. Yet at the same time, she treated her like a normal brand new life. She pointed out shared characteristics, raved about her luscious dark hair and marveled at her beauty. Rebecca consistently went out of her way to help us create lasting physical and emotional memories with our daughter. She personally mixed up and helped perfect hand and foot castings. She helped us bathe our daughter and snuggle her up tight. Rebecca read the room perfectly, shared our happy moments, and wept with us in our sorrowful moments. As a new mother and a grieving mother at the same time, I couldn’t have asked for a more attentive and compassionate caregiver to guide me through the less desirable physical effects of delivery. Rebecca’s care was not limited to just her shift. She stayed after her shift time to coordinate moving us as a family to our recovery room at a private time when the halls were clear. She held our daughter and wept with us as she said her goodbyes, but her impact did not stop there. Rebecca kept in touch and has continued to champion for the littlest lives lost.

The greatest gift anyone could ever give a parent in our situation is the gift that Rebecca gave us - normalcy and respect. Our memories of our daughter were carefully curated by Rebecca’s wonderful and compassionate soul, and we truly could not be more thankful.