When I first went to the hospital after having contractions 10 minutes apart, I thought it was Braxton Hicks, but then I realized it was contractions and I was going to preterm labor. I was then sent home, and every day for five days, I was having contractions minutes apart. I was finally admitted because I was finally dilated.

I met the nurse Antonette, and she was by my side, vouching for me. After 6 days, I became very feverish. Antonette came into the room, took my temperature, and saw the baby's heart rate on the monitor, which was extremely low. She was the one who really stood by me, took me seriously, and understood my pain. Fast-forward to the delivery I was super scared out of my mind because it is my first birth four weeks early, so I thought I was still going to have time to prepare myself mentally to deliver but I did not. Everything happened very fast, but she was just by my side the whole time, talking to me and calming me down; even when I paid for a doula, she was the one who helped. Her face was the only face that I saw, and she was just so calming and reassuring. She was the reason I gave birth.

I thought I was going to have to have a C-section because I could not go through the pain, but again, she was there calming me down. The reassurance was so amazing. After giving birth, all the doctors, all the nurses, and so many people were coming in and out of the room, and she was just by my side, making sure I was okay because I did not know what was going on. I went from 100% of pain to no pain and a baby! All the doctors’ nurses left me so tired, and I could not function anymore. She took care of the baby after the skin to skin. She fed him because I could not; I did not have milk. She stayed with him. Her shift ended, which was at 7 AM. She did not leave his side. She did not leave my side. It was so nice and amazing because I did not have enough time to call family members to be by my side, but she was there.

I would give her everything if I could give her anything in the world. She was the reason I went through this as someone so scared to go through labor my whole life. I thought labor would be a negative experience, and because of her, I had a fantastic experience. She took me seriously and believed in me. Everything was smooth in the world. This is the thing I would love to give her. I just do not know how to repay her. I really would love for her to get this award because it would mean so much to me. I am sure I was not the only one that she gave her constant love and affection to. I was just there for a few hours, and it felt like years. I wish I could see her. I wish I could give her a huge hug, and I wish I could give her everything in the world because of how much she impacted me and this experience. As a female going through that pain, it is excruciating. No one will ever understand unless it is a female who is going through the pain and has a fantastic nurse who is by your side, making sure that you and your baby are okay.

I will never find this type of love and care from a nurse. I want everyone to know how amazing she was and how much she has impacted me as someone who was afraid and alone. She made me want to do this experience again, and if I do, I will choose her to be my nurse tenfold! She is the type of nurse that every nurse should learn from.