I was having signs of preeclampsia at 35 weeks pregnant. I was in and out of the hospital various times. Kirsten was with me one of the first visits and did her best to calm my nerves. When I came back again she was happy to see me and again calmed my nerves even though I was going to have to stay overnight. She was always positive and used humor like I do to make me feel better. When I returned right before her shift started one day, she came right away to see me. She had almost not even worked that shift but seemed genuinely pleased to see me.

I was the patient who didn’t want to be at the hospital and was not mentally prepared to have my baby a month early. This day, there were no more options, and she calmed me down and listened to my fears, and learned what my birth plan wishes were even though I hadn’t put them in writing since I was only 36 weeks pregnant exactly. We went over things I thought wouldn’t even matter, like did I want a blood transfusion if needed. I explained to her that I really didn’t want a transfusion, only if I needed it to stay alive, but we didn’t think it would ever matter. We discussed other things about how I wanted to be treated and for baby to be treated and I told her that since she understood me so well that if ever I couldn’t speak for myself I trusted she could make the decision I would want.

The day progressed and we waited until it was time for my c section. The c-section went mostly smoothly. I had started to recover and my older children were visiting when I things suddenly and drastically went wrong. I mentioned to my husband I didn’t feel good but he thought I meant in general which was to be expected and our children were about to be leaving with grandparents so he didn’t do anything. I ended up getting the nurse button, and Kirsten came instantly and realized that it was serious. She calmly told everyone it was time to leave. My children didn’t even realize there was an emergency. Within moments, I was not coherent, and I only remember vague moments. I know that the OB doctors weren’t available at the time and that my room was flooded with what was termed the “rat pack.” I know I was rushed back into an OR room. Afterward, I remember being in my room and Kirsten and the doctor having additional medical emergencies where other procedures were performed due to faulty medical equipment that had just been inserted in the OR shortly before weren’t working. During all these medical emergencies that I don’t quite remember, I do remember Kirsten being there and telling me, “Everything is fine,” so when my doctor later visited and said I had “tried to die,” I was confused. I asked my husband, and he said, “I think at least twice.” During all that happened I knew I was ok because Kirsten said I was. She kept my husband updated while I was in the OR and even apologized to him that I needed blood knowing I didn’t want that. She even stayed late on her shift until I was stabilized.

Kirsten calmed and cheered me during my first few visits and before things took a turn for the worse that day. She respected me as a person, mother, and patient. She stood with me throughout a traumatic situation and I trusted her completely that I wasn’t additionally worried during the medical crisis. Not only did she stay by my side, but she also advocated for my preferences. Not only was she there she was making sure my newborn got treated the way I had requested while I was not able to care for him and she kept my husband updated to things happening to me when I was in the OR

I didn’t see Kirsten again after that night to thank her personally as she was coming up on time off. She had come in to work when she didn’t have to, and she stayed late even after a very stressful shift. She didn’t just do her job that day. She was very integral in keeping me alive. I also can’t express how important it was that my other children weren’t alarmed or traumatized when they were asked to leave. I appreciate her remembering all my birthing and emergency plans. She was apologetic about a few things that didn’t go according to birth and emergency plans only because of medical conditions preventing those choices from happening. There aren’t words for how sincerely thankful I am for everything she did that day, and I’m sure she did many things I just didn’t realize because of my state of consciousness.