I came to Kettering Washington Township Hospital early on a snowy morning and was fortunate to be in the care of Tesia Payne-Adams for labor and delivery. I am an almost 37-year-old first-time mom, and I was very nervous, not knowing exactly what to expect. Tesia was an exceptional nurse and amazing support throughout my labor, delivery, and recovery process.

She calmly walked me through what would happen and patiently answered my and my husband's questions. She was proactive to ensure I was able to get an epidural even though I had arrived with labor quite advanced. She gave me a heads-up about each step and even shared some of her personal experiences from giving birth to her two children. She was the perfect coach and cheerleader throughout the delivery process. She gave authentic encouragement and emanated a steady, positive energy. This made me feel calm and confident. At one point I even joked to my husband as the contractions were getting more intense that while he was important, Tesia was the most important person in the room.

I had fairly significant tearing, and she gave me tips to manage the pain and discomfort in recovery. She also gave us a heads up that the second night can often be more challenging with a new infant and shared her guidance, so we felt prepared.

Maya Angelou once said, "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Thanks to Tesia's exceptional care and kindness, I will forever remember the birth of my first child as a positive and transformative experience. We are grateful to have such a skilled and dedicated nurse serving our community.

Note: This is Tesia's 2nd DAISY Award!