Sherrie Sims is a NICU nurse at Slidell Memorial. When I had my first child we had a scare with her being early. I was admitted into the hospital on 3/8/21 due to eclampsia and severe migraines. My son was born on 3/14/21 at 33+5weeks. I was extremely scared because he was tiny and having trouble breathing on his own. I was a wreck. When I was finally able to go visit with him after about 12 hours later, the very first nurse who greeted me was Nurse Sherrie. I cannot describe how blessed I was to have her as one of our nurses. She cared for my son all the way up to the day we left, 33 days later. I cried every day for about 2 weeks as I came and went. She worked the day shift and it was so refreshing to see her. She was extremely helpful, always asked if I was okay, offered help and education for me. My son was on a heart and 02 monitor and he de-satted often while bottle feeding. I would get overwhelmed and upset when he would de-sat with me while feeding him his bottles. She assured me that he had to get stronger and just grow for him to get it. Her just checking on me periodically was something so small but such a huge impact on me. I visited my son daily 2-3 times. I tried to go during feedings so I could work with him. The days she was off I wasn’t as sure as I was with him. She put my mind at ease with letting me know I was doing everything right.

It was about two weeks in when I was ready for him to latch onto breast for the first time. I was finally given the “okay” from the doctor to put to breast. She was there for the very first breastfeeding. She asked if I needed help. I told her I might but wasn’t sure. She stayed with me, helped me, positioned myself and my son and gave me ways to ensure a successful feeding. One thing I noticed was that he wasn’t de-satting as much. At one point she mentioned that he took to breast better than a bottle. Don’t get me wrong, the other nurses there were attentive, but there was something special about her. I can only imagine how challenging a NICU nurse job is, she does it with grace, integrity, and pride. I have thanked her a number of times and all she ever says is, she was doing her job. By her putting her hand on my shoulder while I cried and assured me, he would be okay. It was that one moment that made my entire day better. All the way up until the day we left, she encouraged us along the way. She thinks its just what she was supposed to do, but she’s our guardian angel. She can disengage from this job, as some nurses did, to protect themselves. But not nurse Sherrie, she put her heart out there, and because of that she is by far, the best nurse I have ever experienced. She gave me the confidence I needed every day to know “I can do this. My son can do this.” I am so grateful for her, and how she treated my sweet boy. If it wasn’t for her amazing words of encouragement, I wouldn’t be at month 13 with breastfeeding and feeling confident in what I’m doing. I will never forget her as she will always hold a very special place in our hearts.