I was 18 weeks pregnant and found out that my baby girl had passed away while getting an ultrasound at my doctor’s office. I went to labor and delivery to give birth to the baby. I was admitted during the day, and Kayla was my night nurse. When she came into the room and introduced herself, she brought a warm, kind, and loving aura into the room. She made me feel safe and comfortable. She brought a sense of calmness to my storm that night.

She held my hand while I delivered the placenta, and she assured me that I was doing a “great job,” although I felt like a failure because I could not keep my baby alive, and I was there delivering a deceased baby, one that we were already preparing for at home. She had a name, clothes, crib, and family waiting for her. Kayla stood by my bedside not as a nurse, but as my friend. She showed compassion for my baby and me. I remember waking up during the night, and I saw Kayla holding my baby girl and taking care of her like she was alive. She was weighing and measuring her, and although my baby had no life in her, Kayla handled her as if she were breathing. I couldn’t hold back the tears when I saw that. She was my nurse for a 12 hour shift that night, but she left a lasting impact on my husband and I. She cared. She showed compassion. She had the purest heart, and it showed me that night that I was not alone during one of the most difficult times of my life. I still don’t know how I managed to be so strong that night, but having a nurse like Kayla to be with me helped me do something I never imagined I could do.

Kayla is an angel in human form. She’s amazing, and she’s in the right profession. Her presence helps to heal hearts. Anyone who has the privilege of having her as a nurse is blessed. There’s a lot I don’t remember about that night, but what I do remember is having Kayla Fertig as my nurse and friend.