Brithe Mauya
November 2025
Brithe
Mauya
,
RN
S11 - Trauma Step Down
Regions Hospital
St. Paul
,
MN
United States
Her care helped me feel like myself and oriented me toward recovery rather than rumination.
I arrived at the hospital terrified. I was having open surgery to remove my right ovary due to its massive cyst with traits suspicious for cancer, while I was also 14 weeks pregnant with my first pregnancy. Surgery went well, and the cyst was benign, but that first night in the hospital, I experienced uterine cramping, muscle spasms, and pain so severe I worried I might be starting to miscarry. I hadn’t expected to feel such bad pain and felt betrayed. It was the most intense and demanding day and night of my life.
In the morning, my surgeon visited and said my fetus was safe, but I experienced “poor pain management” in part because of my pregnancy. I felt relieved to be believed and have an explanation. Then, the nurse, Brithe, introduced herself and told me her plan to make my day better. I immediately appreciated her gentle but straightforward way of speaking. She struck me as practical yet optimistic, traits I share as a professional journalist. I was scared that the doctor wanted to take away my PCA drip, but Brithe assured me she would closely monitor my pain. I then decided to have her remove my Foley catheter and walk for the first time with her help. Accomplishing these milestones with her built my trust. When she left for the night, I was comforted to know she would be back in the morning.
Brithe saw the signs I was developing an ileus and advised me on what to do to help it, despite my surgeon’s assistant saying I didn’t have one; I was surprised but grateful Brithe was willing to disagree with another medical professional and explain why to me. When my abdominal pain got so bad I threw up, even though my parents and husband were there helping me, I yelled to them “CALL BRITHE!” I felt safest in her care. Luckily, she got me through that, too.
In total, I was supposed to be hospitalized one night and ended up staying four, and Brithe was my nurse for most of my waking hours. In addition to her professional medical care, she also created moments of lightness and hope. She joked with my family and me about my gas. As she showered me, she told me stories about her own pregnancies and deliveries. She sat next to me when I cried and assured me I was healing well. Her care helped me feel like myself and oriented me toward recovery rather than rumination.
When it was time for her to end her last shift and we knew I was likely to be discharged the next morning, we hugged, and I said, “Brithe, you saved me. Thank you.” In the following weeks, when I hit more recovery milestones, I wished I could tell Brithe.
I am profoundly thankful to have been paired with Brithe. Having open surgery while pregnant and being hospitalized for longer than expected was terrifying and exhausting. Brithe’s rational, steady approach to care helped me feel like I had a comprehensive understanding of what was happening, which grounded me. Thinking about her care brings me to tears because I feel so blessed to have been helped by her. She deserves this recognition for her combination of robust medical skill and exceptional bedside manner.
In the morning, my surgeon visited and said my fetus was safe, but I experienced “poor pain management” in part because of my pregnancy. I felt relieved to be believed and have an explanation. Then, the nurse, Brithe, introduced herself and told me her plan to make my day better. I immediately appreciated her gentle but straightforward way of speaking. She struck me as practical yet optimistic, traits I share as a professional journalist. I was scared that the doctor wanted to take away my PCA drip, but Brithe assured me she would closely monitor my pain. I then decided to have her remove my Foley catheter and walk for the first time with her help. Accomplishing these milestones with her built my trust. When she left for the night, I was comforted to know she would be back in the morning.
Brithe saw the signs I was developing an ileus and advised me on what to do to help it, despite my surgeon’s assistant saying I didn’t have one; I was surprised but grateful Brithe was willing to disagree with another medical professional and explain why to me. When my abdominal pain got so bad I threw up, even though my parents and husband were there helping me, I yelled to them “CALL BRITHE!” I felt safest in her care. Luckily, she got me through that, too.
In total, I was supposed to be hospitalized one night and ended up staying four, and Brithe was my nurse for most of my waking hours. In addition to her professional medical care, she also created moments of lightness and hope. She joked with my family and me about my gas. As she showered me, she told me stories about her own pregnancies and deliveries. She sat next to me when I cried and assured me I was healing well. Her care helped me feel like myself and oriented me toward recovery rather than rumination.
When it was time for her to end her last shift and we knew I was likely to be discharged the next morning, we hugged, and I said, “Brithe, you saved me. Thank you.” In the following weeks, when I hit more recovery milestones, I wished I could tell Brithe.
I am profoundly thankful to have been paired with Brithe. Having open surgery while pregnant and being hospitalized for longer than expected was terrifying and exhausting. Brithe’s rational, steady approach to care helped me feel like I had a comprehensive understanding of what was happening, which grounded me. Thinking about her care brings me to tears because I feel so blessed to have been helped by her. She deserves this recognition for her combination of robust medical skill and exceptional bedside manner.