I was admitted to SMCF at 27 weeks pregnant and my water broke. I was told I would remain at the hospital until I delivered my baby. Gretchen was one of the first nurses I had. She was kind, attentive, and compassionate, like so many of the Sanford nurses. I would stay in the hospital for two weeks, waiting to deliver. The nurses were my friends and caretakers during that time. They were equally as attentive to me as a mother in labor, which reassured me that they would help keep my baby safe. Gretchen played a big part in keeping my morale up. The day before my baby was delivered the Blue Angels were practicing for the Fargo Air Show. Gretchen encouraged me to watch them out the window. I'll remember this for my entire life, because at the same time the very next day, I watched the Blue Angels fly by my hospital window as I was being prepped for my emergency C-section.
Because my baby was going to be born at 29 weeks, I was incredibly afraid. I was relieved to see Gretchen, a familiar face, in the OR, especially as my husband was not allowed in the room. Before going under general anesthesia, I remember Gretchen holding my hand as I breathed through contractions. This small gesture was so reassuring to me. When I woke up, the first thing I remember is seeing my husband and Gretchen. My husband told me that our baby was born, she was okay and came out screaming (totally unexpected). She was born weighing 3 lbs. Gretchen cried tears of joy with us. My husband had to go be with our daughter in the NICU awhile I recovered in PACU. Gretchen was there, attentive to my pain and needs, but also to celebrate the moment with me. When my sister and mother arrived, she patiently listened to me relay the story over and over again. I was a bit loopy from the meds and running on the adrenaline that the birth went well. She laughed at my bad jokes while she checked my incision and my vitals. It was comforting to know that someone was caring for me so that I could focus on my baby.
She came to visit me in the postpartum wing before I was discharged. I thanked her in person for her kindness and strength. She also sent me a note in the mail. I've put this in our daughter's memory box so that we can tell her the story of all the people who made her birth a success. I'm hoping to bring our daughter to meet Gretchen at SMCF when she is older. I want to extend all my gratitude to her at the entire Sanford staff for saving me and my daughter. It's a miracle!