I would like to thank my nurse, Shelly, and share my story of why this nurse is so special. I’m a principal at Stratford school. That little piece is important because I became known as “the principal” in L&D. My pregnancy with my second pregnancy was a complicated one from 7 weeks of pregnancy and on. My pregnancy was full of uncertainty, emergency visits to my ob/gyn, weekly visits to perinatology, and countless sleepless nights.

Once I entered my 26th week of pregnancy things quickly worsened and became critical. I was first admitted to L&D during week 26 of my pregnancy. My blood pressure was 194/101 and the home hypertension program had me go in. I was so scared. So much happened, so quickly. Ivies, medications, vomiting, crying, doctors, nurses, and just a whirlwind of blurred memories. I was scared that we’d be having my baby at 26 weeks and that he wouldn’t survive. I was heartbroken to be away from my 5-year-old who was really missing me and scared for his brother, I was anxious, I was holding on by a thread. Then in walked Shelly. Not into my room, but to our lives. I was admitted on a Monday night and met her on a Tuesday morning. Her presence was so calm, kind, sincere, loving, and genuine. She talked to me. She listened. She cared. She did everything that she’s supposed to as a nurse, but she went above and beyond. She was with me when I needed her most. Her eyes spoke to my soul and filled me with hope.

Without even knowing it, she helped calm me. My blood pressure was the best when she was around. I was discharged on Friday and I was so sad I didn’t get to say goodbye. Little did I know I’d be back in L&D, in 8 short days. I enjoyed being home. But I never forgot about Shelly. At 28 weeks I was re-admitted to L&D. There were critical issues with my placenta and the umbilical cord. This time I knew there was no going home. This time I knew my sweet boy was coming. This time I was on an hour-by-hour watch. Priority patient on the floor. My doctors, nurses, and NICU doctors were in and out of my room for what seemed like all day. I was so scared. In fact, I was completely mortified. I knew what was coming and I knew it would be hard. I was in L&D from Monday through Friday. Thursday of that week my sweet boy took a turn for the worst.

Once again, they pumped up the magnesium and I felt absolutely horrible. I didn’t sleep much that night. I cried most of the night out of pure fear. I sent my husband home to be with our son and give him a sense of normalcy and some rest. I was lonely. I finally shut my eyes around 3am. I woke up and slowly opened my eyes around 7am. There standing in my room was Shelly. I had been praying she’d be my nurse again at some point. She was looking at my vitals, when she saw I woke up she greeted me with a big smile and asked if I remembered her. She had no idea that not only did I remember her, but that she had firmly implanted herself in my heart. Everything happened so fast. She told me to call my husband and tell him to get to the hospital as soon as he could. I was so afraid I’d be rushed for my C-section and he wouldn’t make it. She promised me she wouldn’t let that happen. She promised me that she wouldn’t leave my side. I asked her if she’d be in my C-section and she told me yes. She was my calming force. She gave me the strength I didn’t have. Once again, she was kind, loving, patient, sincere, and just what I needed.

Shelly was with us in the OR. She was so precise in all she did. Every time I heard her voice, I felt at peace. I felt like she was my angel. She brought a sense of calm I couldn’t explain. My son was delivered at exactly 29 weeks. A lot was a blur from moving to mommy and baby. I was in the hospital until Sunday night. Sunday was horrible. I was so sad my baby was in the NICU and it broke my heart to leave him. I didn’t connect with a single nurse in mommy and me and I felt so alone. I was using the restroom to change. When I opened the door to return to my bed, there she was again. Shelly! She came to check on me and wish me the best. She had no idea how much I needed that visit. I thanked her and couldn’t contain my tears. She shared kind words with me, hugged me, and just filled my spirit with hope. Shelly goes above and beyond. She is an extraordinary nurse who goes above and beyond the call of duty. Shelly works from the heart and this makes her stand out as a nurse. I will never forget her, and I am so thankful for her. She’s our angel. I am forever thankful for her!