...Simone went above and beyond anything I ever could have expected from a nurse. Our day was going great, as my husband and I anxiously anticipated the arrival of our first child. We couldn't wait to see and hold her for the first time and announce to all our family and friends the name we had chosen for our daughter.

Simone was not my L&D nurse that day, but when my baby decided to decelerate her heart beat right before the shift change; Simone, along with several other nurses came rushing into the room. After what seemed like an eternity (although it wasn't) my baby's heart rate came back up.

We rushed to the back for a C-section knowing our baby girl would not tolerate labor any longer. Sixteen minutes from when the C-Section was called, my baby was born; which began the longest 13 minutes of my life as my daughter was born without a heartbeat.

By this time, Simone should have left for the day since her shift was over, but she didn't. She stayed with my husband and me for the next hour or so. She kept me informed on how my baby was doing throughout the thirteen minutes they coded her. She prayed with me. She encouraged me. She went to NICU with my husband to support him and be with him once they got my daughter's heart beating.

Simone helped explain the tests and procedures to my husband in an attempt to help him understand all that this meant for our family and daughter. She came back to the OR to check on me and asked if I wanted her to update my family on the events that had unexpectedly unfolded. As I had requested, she told my family of all that had happened and told them I wanted them to be praying for my daughter. Simone came back into the OR and sat with me until my C-section was complete.

Although I never thought this is how having my first child would go, Simone supported us through one of the best and hardest days of our lives. Simone was my nurse the next morning and worked as hard as she could to help me get transferred to Rockford Memorial Hospital to see my baby. She, along with Dr. Shah, pushed for me to transfer as soon as possible. Because of her hard work and support, I was able to see my baby less than 16 hours after birth.

Our daughter is now almost a year old and is at home with us..something I never thought would happen while lying in the OR that night. Words cannot express how grateful my husband and I are for all of the L&D staff, doctors and NICU staff who worked so hard to save her life. Without all of you, we would not have our beautiful red-headed daughter we have to rock to sleep every night. Thank you all for the support you have given and still continue to give us!