Kirsty was my nurse when I was in labor with my daughter. While I had quite a few nurses that were great, Kirsty went above and beyond for me. Kirsty made me feel at ease and took my mind off of labor while talking to me about her life, her son, and her parents in Scotland. She seemed to anticipate my every need before I could ask -- bringing me Jello when I was feeling hungry, refilling my water when I was thirsty before I could even ask; and when I started to feel nauseated, she brought me a bag (all of this without me even asking or mentioning it).

I felt so helpless and child-like, stuck in bed with my epidural -- unable to move and hating to bother anyone -- so her kindness meant even more because I was too shy to ask for these things on my own. She noticed my husband asleep in a chair and got a blanket and covered him up. Lying in bed, covered in blood and amniotic fluid, I felt disgusting. Kirsty offered to clean me up, and she washed me clean. It felt so humbling to be so helpless that a stranger has to wash you up because you can't do it yourself. Her kindness truly felt as humbling as Jesus washing the disciple's feet.

During labor she did an amazing job of coaching me and cheering me on. She also calmed my fears and talked me through each step of active labor. Her warmth and gentleness was so soothing to me that I wished she could have been with me my entire hospital stay. I also joked that I wanted to deliver my daughter early enough that I could eat breakfast (my favorite meal) because it had been over 24 hours since I'd eaten. Well shortly after delivering my daughter at 5:30 in the morning, Kirsty asked what I wanted for breakfast and had it brought up to me. It wasn't until my hospital breakfast was delivered hours later that I realized she personally got me breakfast from the cafeteria, possibly out of her own pocket. Because my daughter was a girl, she even turned two hospital hats into a hat with a bow.

Since returning home from the hospital, all I have talked about was how wonderful a nurse Kirsty was and how much she meant to me. If ever a nurse deserved recognition for kindness and going above and beyond, she deserves it.