Our OB department had the sweetest couple on our unit have a sweet baby girl. Tabitha Young tended to the baby while Amber took care of the mother who stated she began to “not feel right.” The patient’s health declined quickly and rapidly. Amber called a rapid response which unfortunately turned into a Code Blue. Both Amber and Tabitha worked diligently and quickly in a situation that is rarely seen on our unit. The patient did not make it and although there was immense heartbreak and devastation, these two amazing nurses pressed on through and continued to provide excellent care to the other patients while consoling a grieving husband and his family. They hid their own tears to wipe away and comfort the husband and his family.

Both of these nurses go above and beyond what is expected of them to find solutions, be compassionate, and give our patients their full attention. I know this family and our department will never forget the amount of compassion and skill these two ladies always exhibit, especially what they did that night. These two are the kind of nurses that don’t lose momentum. No matter the heartache or situation, they learn from it and use it to make themselves better nurses while also being teachers to their coworkers.

It was a very heartbreaking couple of days afterward. The OB department attended the patient’s funeral. The husband made his way through the large crowd to find Amber and hug her to show his appreciation for what she did. As the tears fell from both of their eyes I heard Amber telling him, “You got this. Those girls need you and you got this. Your wife knows you got this.” He kept saying, “Thank you.”

Several days later the husband brought those three little girls to the OB department to meet Amber and Tabitha—the nurses who took such good care of their momma. Loss doesn’t determine a nurse, its how she deals with the loss, and how she is a rock for the patient, their family, and those around them. Amber and Tabitha are our rocks.