I want to nominate Tonya and shout out a huge thank you to her. I don’t think she realizes just how much of a difference she made in my life. I am a few days away from having a scheduled C-section and afterward, my baby will be going to NICU because she’ll be premature. As time is getting closer to the C-section, I am having a lot of mixed feelings from happy, sad, scared, numb, and everything in between. I was bottling everything up and wasn’t sure who to talk to or even how to open up. Tonya was my nurse and randomly during her shift, I asked her if she had a few minutes to sit down to listen and talk with me. She did not hesitate at all and even pulled up a chair and sat down to listen to everything I had to say. She didn’t make me feel rushed or like a burden, she validated all my emotions, gave reassurance, and even gave me a huge hug at the end. She even went the extra mile of reaching out to the Perinatal Mood Disorder Clinic and other doctors and social services (all with my permission) so we could find me more resources and help. When she came back into my room a little bit later, she mentioned the doctor was asking where she was and she said “I was in a patient’s room. It was important!” And it sure did make me feel important and cared about. SHE made me feel important and cared about.

Since opening up to her, I’ve been able to talk with multiple people and resources and even though I’m having a lot of the same feelings still, I am processing them better, as well as I know I have a tremendous support system here at MCHS.