My wife and I had our first baby in your hospital's labor and delivery ward in January. My wife was in the hospital for 62 hours before the baby was born, and then another 50-something hours after that. In that time, I witnessed ten nurses care for my wife, and one nurse care for our son (in the PACU). It is in the context of interaction with eleven total nurses that I write to recognize Deb for her outstanding work.
My wife had a miserable stay in your wonderful hospital, suffering through a failed induction, a failed epidural, multiple days nauseous and vomiting for magnesium sulfate, and three sleepless nights from blood pressure readings every 45 minutes. The bright point in this long story was the absolute love that Deb showed my wife. In a birth experience where almost nothing was according to my wife's plan, Deb helped my wife regain a semblance of control by making a few of her wishes come true.
My wife really wanted to labor in a bathtub, among so many other aspects of her birth experience that became unavailable because of medical complications. Hearing this, Deb lovingly drew her a bath, walked her slowly over to the tub, and let her rejuvenate there for around an hour while taking her blood pressure readings in the tub. This time in the bathtub was the only important part of her birth plan that my wife was actually able to actualize while in labor for multiple days, and I know how much it meant to her.
In addition to this specific act of empowering my wife to attain one important aspect of her birth plan, Deb was compassionate and caring for my wife emotionally, not just medically. My wife would cry multiple times during her 62-hour hospitalization prior to the birth of our son. This would happen every time she realized that the newest medical complication made a spontaneous vaginal delivery less and less likely. During at least one of these crying spells, Deb held my sobbing wife while lovingly rubbing her back and reassuring her. If I believe in angels, I'd say Deb was one, but I don't, so instead, I get to call her an amazing nurse.
When I asked my wife for her input for this award nomination, she recalled how personable, empathetic, supportive, and understanding Deb was. My wife also remarked at Deb's calming presence, which she really appreciated. The last adjective that my wife shared with me, and which resonated with me the most, was that Deb was "present". By present she doesn't mean simply being there, or that Deb just showed up (as some people do at their jobs). She meant that Deb worked hard every moment to understand what she wanted and needed, and to do what she could to provide love, care, and support through a difficult time.
Please thank Deb again for loving my wife, and for taking care of her so well. Even if she is honored with The DAISY Award this month, we're heartened to know that it's because another nurse at your hospital showed another patient, even more, love and care than Deb showed my wife last month. If that's the reason she doesn't receive this award, then it just means that the world is a better place than I believed it to be.