I accompanied my client, a first-time mother, who needed to be induced in the hospital due to gestational diabetes. As her homebirth midwife, she had planned for a peaceful, physiological birth experience surrounded by familiar faces and a calm environment. When medical circumstances made a hospital induction necessary, she was understandably anxious and heartbroken.

From the moment we arrived, Roxanna transformed what could have been a fearful experience into one of the most compassionate, empowering births I’ve ever witnessed in a hospital setting. She met my client with genuine warmth, listened to her preferences, and treated her birth plan not as an inconvenience, but as a roadmap for supporting her body and her heart through a major transition.

Roxanna took the time to dim the lights, speak gently, and move slowly. She explained every intervention with clarity and respect. She never rushed the process, even when protocols were in place, and consistently advocated for the mother’s autonomy and comfort. Her sensitivity bridged the gap between the homebirth philosophy and hospital policy in a way that made my client feel seen, safe, and supported.

Throughout labor, Roxanna’s presence was grounding and deeply intuitive. She offered encouragement at the perfect moments, and her calm confidence gave everyone in the room, my client, her partner, her doula, and even me, a sense of peace. My client told me afterward, “I never imagined I could feel this kind of peace in the hospital.”

Roxanna embodies everything the DAISY Award stands for: extraordinary compassion, clinical excellence, and a heart for true patient-centered care. She turned a situation filled with fear into one of grace, strength, and beauty. I’m so grateful that her light touched my client’s birth story.