I went into labor for my first baby at exactly 40 weeks. At 7pm that night, at shift change, I met Melissa who was assigned to me. From the very first interaction I knew I would be in good hands. She was so understanding and helpful. She listened to my wants and needs for my birth plan, my fears, my excitement, and my story (my baby girl was an IVF baby). Being familiar with the NICU, I had a lot of fear of what could go wrong and a plan for almost every scenario, and she listened to them all. When I developed a maternal temp and mec she was so calming and thorough with her care. Every time I needed to move, or my brow wiped, or needed a drink, she was right there for me. At one point, I needed a little push in my progress, and she explained how the medication worked.

Around 230 am, it was time, and I was fully ready to push. She explained how the process worked to me and my support in the room. For 3 and a half hours I pushed, and she was the best coach. How to breath, how to push, different positions, we made it fun, and she let me play music to get some energy, she yelled with me, when I got discouraged, she coached me through. She even predicted the time when we would meet our little one.

Then, it was baby time, and things got scary. Once we were in our final pushes to deliver baby girl, the midwife called a shoulder. I immediately panicked as this was my biggest fear. Our delivery room went from a fun upbeat atmosphere, to controlled chaos. Melissa literally stood on my bed and helped to get baby girl out, the room flooded with people, and I have to admit, the details of these moments are still hazy, but I know my baby girl was born not breathing, I know I was hemorrhaging, and it was the scariest 30 minutes of my life. While I was bleeding, I kept trying to get to my baby as the NICU team was working on her, and Melissa was right there with me, trying to keep me calm and help me through my crisis. She didn't leave my side and made sure I would be ok. After a terrifying time, the team got my baby breathing and stabilized me, and sure enough, baby girl was born at the exact time Melissa predicted.

I have to be honest; I don't think it would have had a happy ending if it were not for Melissa. I was stunned and didn’t even know what just happened. Melissa even made it light and knew we were joking people and said, "Sorry, I had to ride you like sea biscuit for a minute," which was just the comedic relief I needed. At this point, Melissa’s shift was over, and the next nurse came in, and she gave report, and she still stayed around a while to make sure I was ok. I found out later, she even sat in the hallway with my parents debriefing and just sitting there holding their hands for a long time after her shift. I have my beautiful 5-month-old dream baby because of her. I am here safe and healthy because of her. I will never be able to express how grateful I am for her expertise and her care.

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The night my daughter gave birth, I sat in the waiting room, and I was only about 20 feet from my daughter’s room. I could hear almost everything. I didn’t know what was going on in the room, I only knew my daughter was in there in labor. It was there when I heard the code called to my daughter’s room, when people went flying past me towards my daughter. At one point a doctor ran by with a group of people yelling that they have to get the baby out now. I sat there terrified, not knowing what was happening. After a long time, my wife came to me in tears, I didn’t know if my daughter or granddaughter were alive. All my wife would say was they were alive before she broke down. We sat there crying together when Melissa joined us. I didn’t know until later that it was the end of her shift. She explained what happened and answered some questions, and then she sat there, held our hands, and just sat with us to make sure we were okay. I was blown away by Melissa’s thoughtfulness and kindness in that moment. I will never forget her for her knowledge, her compassion, and her care for my daughter. Every nurse should take notes from her.

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My daughter always wanted a baby, and after trying and trying, her dreams finally came true, and I was with her every step of the way, including her labor. My daughter labored for 30 hours and pushed for 3 and half hours straight. Melissa was there for my daughter for every push, and every complication. Working for Women and Infants for 25 years, I had never met Melissa, but after how she was with my daughter and my family, I will never forget her. Once my daughter started pushing, Melissa coached her so well, she coached me and my son in law as well so we could help her in every way we could. Melissa let her pick out the music played, and kept the energy fun, even making a competition to help my daughter fight through her exhaustion. She cared for my baby with such grace and calmness. I have never been a labor and delivery nurse in my years of nursing, so when a shoulder was called, I didn’t really know what to expect. It wasn’t until Melissa told me to hit the code button behind me that I realized how much danger my baby and grandbaby were in. After hitting that button, I went through the scariest hour a mother could go through, and the entire time, Melissa never once faltered in her care for my daughter. As I watched my daughter fade in and out while she hemorrhaged, I had to rely on the women in the room to save my daughter and granddaughter. Melissa was an absolute expert in that care, she saved my daughter from going to the OR with her quick care, she cleaned my daughter up, she helped calm her down and because of her, my daughter gets to experience motherhood.

After my daughter stabilized, I went to the waiting room to my husband, and we sat there and cried, unsure of what even happened, and it took time to process. Once Melissa gave report to the following nurse, she came to check on my husband and I to make sure we were ok. After working a 12-hour shift, a hard shift, caring for my daughter, she stayed with us, off the clock and just held our hands, answering questions, and for a time, just sitting there with us in silence to make sure we were ok. She stayed there with us like that for 22 minutes. Melissa’s care, expertise, grace, and calmness will always stick with me. She truly showed the art of nursing that night, and I will always be grateful for her.

Note: This is Melissa's 2nd DAISY Award!