My story includes two nurses as my husband and I navigated the worst situation in our lives. I was brought in on Monday night for dilation. I was getting ready to deliver our baby boy who no longer had a heartbeat.
My sweet, amazing, day shift nurse was Kim. She walked in with tears in her eyes as she introduced herself. She told me her prayer daily was that God gives her the patients she needs to encounter daily. I needed her. I will be honest, going into Labor and Delivery knowing you will be leaving without a baby is a feeling I cannot describe. Especially with babies crying around you, somehow it was comforting yet so hard. Kim played a big role in why it was comforting. My experience with her was better than my delivery with my first very healthy baby girl. She let me know I would feel my water break, and she walked me through the contractions. I really thought it would be a situation of "let's hurry up and discharge this woman" but she took her time with me. She was gentle and compassionate. She waited with me and she grieved with me. I did not once have to wonder where she was or if she was ever going to check on us, she was consistent and you could tell she was concerned and praying for us. She captured my sweet little baby's footprints for me. We left with a birth certificate which she filled out. That in itself is so special. She related to me and did not once try to tell me how to feel or state any of the cliché sayings. Kim is real and I couldn't have made it through the worst time in my life without her.
Kim also helped the team of nurses with the doctor help present my boy to me. They were very respectful and careful in presenting us our boy. I am so thankful they treated him as they would any other baby. They spoke in his gender terms and once we said the name began calling his name. They made this as joyful as they could. Somehow it did turn into a bittersweet celebration. Kim even checked on my husband over and over. I would hope she is with me when I am able to return to L&D one day.
Looking in her eyes throughout the day gave me peace and comfort knowing that everything was ok and that I was receiving the best care Parkwest had to offer. I had many visitors in my time and she was not put out by their questions or them being in her way. I've honestly never experienced that type of customer service in a hospital before. I am not sure how either one of these ladies made it through our journey so gracefully. It is probably because of their faith and the pure evidence that they love their jobs and connecting with people to help get them through life.