I met nurse Tamela during what was expected to be a routine labor induction. My water broke at 32 weeks; I was hospitalized for a week and a half until it was time for induction. We knew my daughter would be early, and we knew we could not push the induction back any further, but it was still a joyful time. My husband was getting things from my previous hospital room and Tamela and I were getting acquainted as we prepared for my induction. She explained every step of the process, made me feel comfortable and confident in my choices, and answered all my questions. As a first-time mother going through this, six weeks earlier than anticipated, I had a lot of questions.

In a split second everything changed and Tamela’s quick reactions are the reason my daughter is alive. Baby A’s heartbeat stopped, Tamela alerted doctors immediately and instructed me to text my husband and let him know it had become an emergency. Tamela stood by my side as it was determined I needed an emergency C-section. She was a familiar face in the operating room before I was put under general anesthesia. I had never been through any medical emergency before and the experience was intense, but Tamela maintained a calm and caring demeanor during the entire experience.

After my C-section, Tamela came in to show me how to pump since my daughter was in the NICU. She was so kind to my husband and me. I was so out of it from anesthesia and he was very shaken by the experience. Before we were discharged, Tamela came to visit and gave us hugs, we showed her photos of our tiny baby girl and thanked her. Tamela made a very scary day into a positive memory for us, and I cannot thank her enough. Every time I tell my birth story, I give her, and her quick-thinking, credit. She was able to develop such a deep rapport within a few minutes of meeting me, her skills and bedside manner are incredible. I’m so grateful she was by my side during the birth of my daughter.