After a not great experience with the birth of my first child, I was a little apprehensive going in for a repeat c-section, knowing that I would be in the hospital for likely 3 days. Add on all of the Covid protocols and that meant my husband would also be in the room with me and not allowed to leave the room at any time for the duration.

Simi was our nighttime nurse who welcomed us with a calming presence and pleasant demeanor. She worked with the day nurse at shift turnover to quickly learn what would make our stay as positive experience as possible. Prior to covid, partners were allowed to come and go freely which allowed for them to go home and shower or get some food and fresh air. For whatever reason the post-partum unit does not have a mini fridge in each room, which means we had to use a small cooler to keep any food or snacks chilled. This meant we requested quite a bit of ice. Simi realized very quickly that we would almost always ask for more ice so she started sending 2 cups of ice each time she came to check on us. When starting our care, Simi asked about my previous c-section stay and what I liked and didn't like about the experience. She was so genuine when she asked what she could do to make things better for us. She listened to everything. She never once had to ask me again about what she could do to make my experience better because she already knew and anticipated all my wants and needs. She always made sure to check in and see if there was any way she could improve how she helped us. Simi always supported me in any way possible to help our family thrive.

One evening, I happened to need pain medication, and she was called away just before my scheduled time. When she returned, she apologized and made sure to let me know she hadn't forgotten about me but that she was called away urgently. She made sure that I was comfortable and that I wasn't in need of anything and brought me some extra juice and snacks to help settle my stomach. Simi was relatable and made us always feel comfortable with her and that she always wanted what was best for us. Simi should be an example to other nurses to learn from, as she was invaluable to our time spent in the hospital.