Last Thursday, I had an emergency c-section at 32.5 weeks pregnant. After an otherwise perfect pregnancy, our daughter had severe complications at birth that required her to be transferred from me at Mt. Carmel St. Ann's Hospital to Nationwide Children's Hospital. My husband went with her and we were separated while my daughter kept coding and had to continuously be brought back. Ultimately, our baby girl did not make it. But, we got one beautiful day with her, and my husband and I both were able to hold her and love on her while she took her last breaths exactly one week ago today. She woke up for a moment during her last breath and looked up at her mommy and daddy while she peacefully passed. Holding a child while she took her last breaths was a beautiful gift and yet our darkest moment. Nothing will ever take away that pain, but I was surprised to find that something did make it a little bit easier.
I am at a loss for words and incredibly speechless at not just one or two nurses that cared for my family during this time, but for a team of about 5 nurses at St. Ann's Hospital and 1 nurse at Nationwide Children's Hospital that somehow found a way to break through our walls of immense grief and sorrow and touch our hearts in a way I'm probably not able to adequately express. They cried with us, fought for us, loved our girl, and worked to help us heal. They personally made us items to remember our baby with, held us while we cried, and went above and beyond in absolutely every way possible. Each of them brought something different to our experience and comforted us in different ways that were quite honestly well over and above their call of duty (despite the humility they'd show when they say it's them "just doing their job.")
In the most real pain I've ever experienced, I know it would make my sweet RJ oh so proud if we could show appreciation for all that these nurses have done for us. Please, we are begging for you to help us recognize these sweet ladies.