She was the most phenomenal nurse I have ever met. From the moment she walked into our room, she brought a calm strength and deep compassion that stayed with us throughout the entire birthing experience. She supported every decision we made and centered my care around me—not just as a patient, but as a whole person. As an athlete, I was especially touched by how she incorporated that part of my identity into her care, using it to help me stay focused and grounded. It was the definition of holistic, personalized nursing. When I reached 10 cm and was fully effaced, I began having a panic attack. She responded exactly the way I needed—she didn’t just treat a patient in labor; she truly saw me and supported me through it with grace and confidence. During the pushing phase, she was my biggest cheerleader. She took the time to use warm compresses between pushes—something that made a huge difference in my recovery and likely prevented more severe tearing. That level of thoughtfulness and skill meant the world to me. She didn’t stop there. After my baby was born, she continued to care for us with the same attention and compassion. I’m pretty sure she was in our room for 9+ hours of her 12-hour shift. She never made us feel like a burden—only that we were in the best possible hands. To our surprise and delight, she was also our nurse the following night. She advocated for me when I was struggling to sleep and worked with the provider to get something to help me rest. She prioritized both physical and emotional healing, which was exactly what I needed in that postpartum window. She is a rockstar. A gifted nurse. A woman who brings excellence and compassion to everything she does. I now have a deep and lasting appreciation for labor and delivery nurses, and she is at the heart of that.