Despite it being my second pregnancy, this recent one was the scariest. I was several weeks early and learned that day my baby would need to be in the NICU. The labor events were terrifying, and more and more providers kept coming in. Doctors were huddled around the room. I was in pain. I was crying. I’d have different people poke out of the huddles to ask me to consent to things. I was confused and scared. So was my partner. Thankfully, the one person I could depend on, during a time when I probably wasn’t in the best place to consent to a procedure, was my nurse, Nurse Steph. We’re birthday buddies! She was friendly, compassionate, and an exceptional healthcare professional. She made sure to keep me informed throughout the process. I listened for her voice when the room was crowded and through my own cries of pain. She was calm and helped me stay grounded. When things took a turn, she made sure to stay by my side and followed me into the OR. I don’t know if I could’ve done this without her. I was even more medicated on the OR table when the decision was made to try pushing once more. I remember being in and out of consciousness, but hearing Nurse Steph guide me through it all to make sure I exerted my energy efficiently, since I didn’t have much more left to give. I wish I could’ve seen her again the next day when I was more awake. Nurse Steph truly cared about me and my partner and my baby. Her kindness is still a bright spot I reflect on when thinking about how scary the whole process was. Our family is so grateful for Nurse Steph. Please pass this thank you along. She made our healthcare experience so much better. Nurse Steph, I hope you didn’t let your husband convince you to cut your little boy’s hair and that he had a great Halloween. Thank you.