When I went to the hospital at 37 weeks pregnant, I did not expect to be meeting my baby girl the same day. I went into OB Triage with what I sensed were early labor symptoms. There I met Audrey, a young nurse with a kind voice and a welcoming smile. I was nervous but was put at ease with Audrey's clear explanation of what to expect. She made sure I was comfortable with all the tests before starting anything.
I was always self-conscious of my small belly when I was pregnant, but when she saw it, she said it was the perfect size for me which put a smile on my face. As they monitored the baby, they began noticing dips in her heart rate which was concerning. After a couple of hours of monitoring, Audrey brought in the resident to discuss the plan of care for me. The resident explained that because of the baby's heart rate dips that they thought it best to meet baby sooner rather than later to make sure she is healthy. They recommended that I be induced that day.
I remember feeling scared and nervous, and wishing that I had my family to guide me to the right decision. But since my family was 2 hours away in Illinois, I knew this wasn't possible. So, I put my trust in God first and foremost, and then in the medical staff, and agreed to their recommendations. As the resident and nurse practitioner left the room, Audrey stayed and asked, "How are you doing with all that information?" I felt my voice shaking and the tears beginning to well up in my eyes. Without any hesitation, Audrey sat next to me on the hospital bed, held my hand, and comforted me. With a confident voice, she told me that everything was going to be okay and that she knew this was all very overwhelming and unexpected. Her kind touch, calm demeanor, and warm words were just what I needed to give me the strength to proceed to the next step.
Audrey wasn't able to be my nurse when I was taken to the labor and delivery floor but made sure to hand me off to the next nurse with a thorough explanation of my situation. After an unplanned C-section after being induced, I met my beautiful baby girl. She was born small for her gestational age and was admitted to the NICU. Yet another unexpected turn of events. I was in the hospital for 5 days recovering from my C-section and dealing with the stress of my daughter being in the NICU was unlike anything I have ever experienced in life.
On the third day of my stay, Audrey came to visit me, unannounced, but an incredibly welcomed act of kindness. She simply came to check on me because she said she knew everything that I was going through was completely overwhelming, to say the least. She sat on my bed and talked me through the emotions I was feeling; sadness, pain, and most of all guilt. Guilt from thinking that I did something to cause my baby to be in the NICU. When I told her this, Audrey looked me square in the eye, held my hand firmly, leaned in, and said, "You did nothing wrong."
I cried as she said those words and she hugged me. It's these embraces I truly remember and a quality in people I admire because they have the ability to make you feel like you're hugging an old friend. I don't think I can ever forget the incredible kindness and type of person Audrey showed herself to be that day. She is my vision of what a nurse is and should be. Audrey demonstrated all the qualities needed to receive this award. I cannot thank her, and the entire nursing staff at Meriter for everything they did for me. Nurses are true heroes and I am humbled to have been cared for by them.