I recently delivered my baby at South Miami Hospital under the care of Mabel. From the moment she walked into the room, I felt like I was in capable hands. I’ve been an ICU nurse for ten years, but this was my first baby, and I have relatively no knowledge of this area. Mabel was so patient with me, no matter how many questions I asked, or no matter how many times I called her to go to the bathroom (haha). As a nurse myself, I know how difficult it can sometimes be to take care of another medical professional, but Mabel never once seemed irritated or frustrated about my preferences or curiosities.

In the ICU, we see the worst of the worst, and one of my fears about labor was that if something went wrong. After an hour or so of talking to Mabel, I had no doubt that she could handle whatever the day brought us and would keep my baby and me safe. She was extremely knowledgeable and worked amazingly well with the physician and other departments to care for me. As soon as my pain became unbearable and I needed my epidural, she coordinated with anesthesia, my epidural was in, and she had my pain under control within 15 minutes (that has to be a record, right?). She hugged me and cheered me on during that 15 minutes of the absolute worst pain of my life and I was terrified her shift would end before my son arrived. However, by 1858, he was born just in time to let her go home). I know how it feels to have everything happen with your patient at the end of your shift when you’re tired and ready to sign out, but Mabel never seemed in a hurry or ready to leave me. While I pushed, she knew exactly when I was tired and needed a break versus when she could encourage me to keep going, all without me saying anything.

Mabel is exactly the kind of nurse we should be lifting up... a veteran nurse who stays at the bedside and takes care of her patients with grace and knowledge and experience. Thank you, Mabel, for all you did for me on one of the most important days of my life!