Ryan Schonenberg
May 2025
Ryan
Schonenberg
,
BSN
Labor and Delivery
University of Minnesota Medical Center & Masonic Children's Hospital
Minneapolis
,
MN
United States
She always went the extra mile to keep my spirits up and make the hospital feel more like home.
Going to the hospital for a two-month stay was not part of my plan for my first pregnancy. My water had broken at 26 weeks of carrying my identical twin girls, and suddenly my life existed within the antepartum unit at Masonic Children's. Ryan was one of the first nurses I had there, and she quickly became a bit of sunshine in what was a pretty dreary situation.
On top of being an incredibly thoughtful, bright, and courageous nurse, Ryan's fun, bubbly personality made me feel normal! When she was working on my unit, she requested that the charge nurse assign her to me when possible. Not only was it a joy to have Ryan as my nurse, but the continuity of care from a familiar face was so nice for a long-term patient. When Ryan wasn't assigned to my unit, shed stop in and say hello.
She always went the extra mile to keep my spirits up and make the hospital feel more like home. For example, when I was all out of my favorite lip gloss, Ryan found a small tube of vaseline for me, and labeled it Summer Fridays, my favorite brand. Together, we counted down the days to my delivery, optimistic of making it to the doctor's recommended date, with a countdown paper chain she made me. The day of my delivery, Ryan was by my side, first as a support person on her day off, doing an excellent job prepping me for what was ahead, helping me document the sweet moments of becoming a first-time mom, and making sure this long-awaited celebratory day was perfect.
When complications arose, Ryan was my emotional support, especially when my family couldn't be around. And, later that night, Ryan was once again my nurse, taking exceptional care of me during my recovery from several post-birth complications. That night, I was in a lot of pain, and she was on top of managing it, working nonstop at my bedside that entire night, and trying any tools she had in her toolkit to make me more comfortable. Ryan was always an advocate for my care with various providers overseeing my condition.
I would not have made it through this experience if it werent for Ryan, she is an exceptional nurse, the best kind of human being, and she will always be a special part of my story in becoming a mom.
On top of being an incredibly thoughtful, bright, and courageous nurse, Ryan's fun, bubbly personality made me feel normal! When she was working on my unit, she requested that the charge nurse assign her to me when possible. Not only was it a joy to have Ryan as my nurse, but the continuity of care from a familiar face was so nice for a long-term patient. When Ryan wasn't assigned to my unit, shed stop in and say hello.
She always went the extra mile to keep my spirits up and make the hospital feel more like home. For example, when I was all out of my favorite lip gloss, Ryan found a small tube of vaseline for me, and labeled it Summer Fridays, my favorite brand. Together, we counted down the days to my delivery, optimistic of making it to the doctor's recommended date, with a countdown paper chain she made me. The day of my delivery, Ryan was by my side, first as a support person on her day off, doing an excellent job prepping me for what was ahead, helping me document the sweet moments of becoming a first-time mom, and making sure this long-awaited celebratory day was perfect.
When complications arose, Ryan was my emotional support, especially when my family couldn't be around. And, later that night, Ryan was once again my nurse, taking exceptional care of me during my recovery from several post-birth complications. That night, I was in a lot of pain, and she was on top of managing it, working nonstop at my bedside that entire night, and trying any tools she had in her toolkit to make me more comfortable. Ryan was always an advocate for my care with various providers overseeing my condition.
I would not have made it through this experience if it werent for Ryan, she is an exceptional nurse, the best kind of human being, and she will always be a special part of my story in becoming a mom.