December 2018
Stephanie
Deering
,
BSN, RN
Labor & Delivery
UnityPoint Health - Meriter
Madison
,
WI
United States
We were recently admitted on 5N, post-emergent C-section. Unfortunately, our delivery ended in tragedy. Our little boy was born and taken to heaven too fast. When we arrived from post-op to our room on 5N, Nurse Stephanie and our post-op nurse began assisting us with making memories through photos, molds, and ink prints, allowing us to hold our baby throughout. Both of us are in the medical field and are directly related to this type of care. We both knew what was most important at this time of our stay and that was to automatically put it in "go mode" and create these memories that we could have forever to remember our sweet, sweet, boy. We had specific requests and ideas, and both nurses never once batted an eye at our requests, no matter how extreme. Nurse Stephanie gave us time and privacy to grieve with our baby and our family instead of rushing into admission questions. At the same time, we still felt her presence and knew we could request her anytime we needed. As our 3-day stay continued, every morning Nurse Stephanie would greet us with true empathy and an open heart and before she left each night, she asked if there was anything she could get while she was home to bring in for us in the morning. It was such a relief to know we would see Nurse Stephanie again each morning as we were trying to navigate minute by minute in this new life of ours. Nurse Stephanie would sit with us for long periods to just be present and grieve with us and truly helped us start the healing process that we needed. Words will never be enough to express our appreciation and gratitude for the wonderful skill, compassion, and love Nurse Stephanie showed us. We are forever grateful, despite the worst circumstances.