On a Tuesday afternoon, I was bringing my 5-week-old baby in while I met with a nurse about lactation concerns. I met a nurse who immediately asked me how I was doing and asked if she could carry anything. Right away, I felt cared about and safe. We went to a room where she asked me questions; I explained that my infant had just gotten out of the NICU, and I had lost my milk supply and needed help. I went on to explain why and what happened, and she listened. Maran made me feel like the environment was safe; she listened and acknowledged all my concerns. She helped me determine the issues, and I remember specifically saying, “I knew I wasn’t crazy,” and she would acknowledge me and tell me no, you are not crazy. After feeling so low by the family practice nurses and feeling like I was wrong, Maran made me feel believed and understood.

Then again, when my son was three months old, I noticed he still had feeding issues. I knew something was wrong, and the doctor referred me to lactation to work with Maran. Instantly, she gave off a caring attitude when she came and got me from the waiting room to L&D. I explained that I was confident that he had a lip tie and a few other issues that were going on. I told her that I had called the nurse line, and they never called me back, and I felt the doctor was not getting the messages directly. She took the time to talk to the doctor and vouched for me, and I got an appointment and specialty referrals the same day.

Both times, Maran was talking to, making jokes, and holding my son; it was amazing to see such a positive and caring interaction. I had to bring my toddler with me on one visit, and she gave him snacks and juice. She was talking to him and treated him so well. That helped me be able to focus on feeding the baby. It was evident that Maran not only cares about her job but very clearly cares about her patients. I was always scared to ask for help because past nurses made me feel like I worried too much. Maran boosted my confidence and made me feel like there was a way to fix things. Without Maran, I would have given up breastfeeding because I wasn’t getting the help I needed, and I would have continued to think it was something I was doing.

My 4.5-month-old is now thriving. The specialist fixed his lip tie and is working with feeding specialists in Ashland. To me, she truly is a nurse who cares and is willing to do anything for her patients. I am thankful she didn’t give up on me and continued to listen. Thank you, Maran; it takes a lot to help other people. I will forever remember what you did for my son and me. Thank you for giving me a role model to look up to while I finish nursing school.