I was admitted for a scheduled induction. Nurse Maria was my assigned RN, and from the very beginning, she provided compassionate and attentive care. A few hours into the induction, shortly after I received an epidural, Nurse Maria performed a cervical check and immediately identified a prolapsed umbilical cord—a critical emergency requiring swift action. Without hesitation, she called the charge nurse and the doctor, using one hand while maintaining pressure with the other to protect the cord. She remained remarkably calm and composed, never letting on that there was cause for alarm. Her poise and professionalism at that moment made all the difference.

Within seconds, the doctor arrived, confirmed the diagnosis, and made the urgent decision to proceed with an emergency C-section. Without missing a beat, Nurse Maria climbed onto my hospital bed to continue protecting the cord and rode with me to the operating room—just like a scene from a medical drama, but this was real life, and her actions were saving my baby. By this point, panic was beginning to set in, but her steady presence kept me grounded. Even as I was being prepped for general anesthesia, she remained by my side, a reassuring and comforting presence.

My husband later told me that after our baby was delivered safely within minutes, Nurse Maria looked just as relieved and overjoyed as he was. Several hours later, although her shift had ended, she still took the time to visit us in the recovery suite to check on us. It meant so much to us that she went out of her way to do so. I know she had to be exhausted and ready to go home. When she saw our baby, she became emotional, and in that moment, I knew—this wasn’t just a job for her. She truly cared.
I had struggled with the fact that I wasn’t awake to meet my son when he entered the world, but knowing that Nurse Maria and the rest of the team welcomed him with love and excitement brought me peace. Thanks to her quick thinking, expert skills, and unwavering composure, my son is now a thriving 13-month-old—healthy, happy, and without any developmental concerns. I will forever be grateful for Nurse Maria, and I think about her often. She is an extraordinary nurse, and I credit her with saving my child’s life.