The day I became a mom was the scariest, but a most amazing day of my life. My twin boys made their entrance into the world a few weeks early via scheduled c-section. For nurse Ashley O'Connell, that day was probably just another day at work. However, you would never know it by how she treated my husband, sons, and my entire family for the entire c-section and hospital stay. From the moment I walked into my room to get ready for surgery, my care, relaxation, and happiness came first and Ashley made that known. She had an oil diffuser with lavender running, "because a twin mom needs to relax" as Ashley said. For the next two hours, she went through all the paperwork and prep to get ready for operation. When it was time to go to the operating room, I was shaking and completely nervous. Nervous about the operation, nervous about becoming a mom, nervous about the health of my boys. However, Ashley cheerily marched in and said, "Ready to go? It's time to have a birthday party!" What a positive, beautiful perspective to put on such a scary situation! She made me smile and I was ready to go!
Throughout the epidural and c-section, Ashley played my favorite country music on her Pandora radio station, held my hands, and continuously told me how awesome I was doing (even though I felt like I was a mess!) and made me feel like I was the most important person in the room. I literally would have NEVER made it through the prep and surgery if it wasn't for her. In recovery and post-op, she shared in my joy of showing off my beautiful, healthy boys to my family members, and tended to my every need, including helping the babies latch while learning to breastfeed. Ashley continued to be my nurse for the rest of the weekend. Ashley hugged me, wiped my tears, and gave me a pep talk when I was feeling down about breastfeeding and supplementing for my one twin that was struggling. She treated me with the utmost respect when I was completely vulnerable and needed help showering and checking my incision. She bonded with my twins, and was even able to tell them apart within hours! I especially loved that she called them by their names instead of "Baby A" and "Baby B." She showed my husband, the new daddy, how to change diapers and help my preemie babies feed. Lastly, she bonded with my family, including my brother that has Down Syndrome and was ecstatic about becoming an uncle. Ashley and I still keep in touch a month later. She's encouraged me, gave me advice, and has become a beautiful friend I will cherish forever.
That day was the scariest day of my life. But it was also the most amazing. Not only because I became a mom. But because all of the Inspira nurses and doctors, and especially Ashley, treated me and my family as if we were their main priority. Ashley showed compassion, love, and deep devotion to her job and her patients. I will NEVER be able to look back on the birth of my twin boys without thinking of Ashley. I was inspired by her love for nursing, and will forever be grateful to her for helping to make the scariest moment of my life the most beautiful and amazing. Ashley O'Connell is everything a nurse should be and more!