February 2021
Samantha
LaPlante
,
BSN, RN, RNC-OB
Family Birth Center
Sanford Medical Center - Fargo
Sami showed us we were more than just her patients. The act of advocating for a wide bed so my husband could be by my side meant the world to us. We were able to lay together and hold our baby boy together.
It's with blurred eyes and tears falling from my cheeks that I write this nomination letter. I've started and stopped this letter countless times for the last ten months. I struggled to find the perfect words to tell you about the nurse that held us together during my week-long stay at Sanford. I hope that the following showcases just how special our labor and delivery nurse, Sami LaPlante was and still is today.
I was 34 weeks pregnant. I had been experiencing some mild cramping throughout the day. As a first-time mom, I was unsure of what I should be expecting so I ended up contacting the labor and delivery department for some advice - you know, just to be on the safe side. This is where Sami LaPlante enters our story. She was so reassuring and helpful. We discussed the issue and talked about what to expect if my water were to possibly break in the next week or so.
About an hour later, my water broke so my husband and I quickly made it over to Sanford. There we met Sami face to face. She took us into the first little room to verify if my water had broken (even though it was pretty evident with my soaked jeans). We were anxiously waiting for what that day was going to bring us as new parents. Little did we know during this time we were chatting, Sami had been searching for our baby boy's heartbeat. She didn't show it on her face, but we knew something was up when we couldn't hear his heart beating with the doppler. She stepped out to get the doctor and things kind of went blank from there.
Later that night after a few hours of labor, I was using the restroom and told Sami I was dizzy. I can still see small clips of the scene replaying in my head. Sami and my husband were trying to hold me up while she quickly went into action pulling the help cord. Once again; that's all I remember for a few hours. That night I had been diagnosed with preeclampsia and HELLP Syndrome. Two things my husband and I had no clue about. Over the five nights, Sami was there for us with every step. Without a doubt, Sami is one of the most patient and caring people I have met in my lifetime.
Sami went above and beyond every day she was with us that week. So many little kind deeds add up to more than one could ever know. From something as simple as making sure my ice water was full at all times and making sure our room stayed a little tidy. I still remember - it was probably our fourth night at the hospital, she turned on the electric candle that was made in memory of our son O. That candle has not been turned off one night since she did that. The emotional turmoil we were going through froze my husband and me from doing that simple act.
Sami showed us we were more than just her patients. The act of advocating for a wide bed so my husband could be by my side meant the world to us. We were able to lay together and hold our baby boy together. She made sure I didn't miss the cutoff time for room service to call down and get my nightly fix of chocolate ice cream.
One of the most selfless, kindhearted acts she did for us is when she offered to give our O a bath. Visitors kept coming and time kept getting later into the night. Sami stayed well after her shift to make sure he got his bath. Never once did I feel judged when I couldn't bring myself to try and wash him.
When she knew it was close to the time for another countless blood draw, she'd get a heat pack ready to go because they were having so many problems drawing blood. It was on day three that it was time for me to bathe, but because of the c-section and weakness, there was no way I was going to be able to get into the tub. So, she thought outside the box and made it happen by taking me to another room to shower. At the time I felt so helpless and vulnerable, she and the other nurse empathized and made the process pass quickly.
I could honestly go on forever about how Sami made the worst time of our lives, into one that was livable and allowed us to make memories with our child. These memories, keepsakes, and pictures are all that my husband and I have to hold on to, to feel close to our son.
After nearly a year, there hasn't been a day that Sami's kindheartedness has gone unappreciated. There will always be a special place in our hearts for Sami.
I was 34 weeks pregnant. I had been experiencing some mild cramping throughout the day. As a first-time mom, I was unsure of what I should be expecting so I ended up contacting the labor and delivery department for some advice - you know, just to be on the safe side. This is where Sami LaPlante enters our story. She was so reassuring and helpful. We discussed the issue and talked about what to expect if my water were to possibly break in the next week or so.
About an hour later, my water broke so my husband and I quickly made it over to Sanford. There we met Sami face to face. She took us into the first little room to verify if my water had broken (even though it was pretty evident with my soaked jeans). We were anxiously waiting for what that day was going to bring us as new parents. Little did we know during this time we were chatting, Sami had been searching for our baby boy's heartbeat. She didn't show it on her face, but we knew something was up when we couldn't hear his heart beating with the doppler. She stepped out to get the doctor and things kind of went blank from there.
Later that night after a few hours of labor, I was using the restroom and told Sami I was dizzy. I can still see small clips of the scene replaying in my head. Sami and my husband were trying to hold me up while she quickly went into action pulling the help cord. Once again; that's all I remember for a few hours. That night I had been diagnosed with preeclampsia and HELLP Syndrome. Two things my husband and I had no clue about. Over the five nights, Sami was there for us with every step. Without a doubt, Sami is one of the most patient and caring people I have met in my lifetime.
Sami went above and beyond every day she was with us that week. So many little kind deeds add up to more than one could ever know. From something as simple as making sure my ice water was full at all times and making sure our room stayed a little tidy. I still remember - it was probably our fourth night at the hospital, she turned on the electric candle that was made in memory of our son O. That candle has not been turned off one night since she did that. The emotional turmoil we were going through froze my husband and me from doing that simple act.
Sami showed us we were more than just her patients. The act of advocating for a wide bed so my husband could be by my side meant the world to us. We were able to lay together and hold our baby boy together. She made sure I didn't miss the cutoff time for room service to call down and get my nightly fix of chocolate ice cream.
One of the most selfless, kindhearted acts she did for us is when she offered to give our O a bath. Visitors kept coming and time kept getting later into the night. Sami stayed well after her shift to make sure he got his bath. Never once did I feel judged when I couldn't bring myself to try and wash him.
When she knew it was close to the time for another countless blood draw, she'd get a heat pack ready to go because they were having so many problems drawing blood. It was on day three that it was time for me to bathe, but because of the c-section and weakness, there was no way I was going to be able to get into the tub. So, she thought outside the box and made it happen by taking me to another room to shower. At the time I felt so helpless and vulnerable, she and the other nurse empathized and made the process pass quickly.
I could honestly go on forever about how Sami made the worst time of our lives, into one that was livable and allowed us to make memories with our child. These memories, keepsakes, and pictures are all that my husband and I have to hold on to, to feel close to our son.
After nearly a year, there hasn't been a day that Sami's kindheartedness has gone unappreciated. There will always be a special place in our hearts for Sami.