Marriage is What Brings Us Together

Everyday is a unique day on the Labor and Delivery Floor. I never know what is going to happen, a hemorrhage, a stat c-section, preeclampsia, a patient who develops chorio., an FDIU. This day was particular unique, something I think most L&D nurses can say they probably have never done. I did 8 hours of my shift on antepartum and then headed over to my hometown in L&D. Oh what is it going to bring me this time... I got report from a fellow nurse I work with. She starts with, "So this patient was here for observation at 25 weeks because of preterm labor and she started to make change...blah blah...and then she leaves me with oh ya and she wants to get married." "Great! when is the wedding? " I say oblivious. "No I mean she wants to get married before the baby comes..." A what... So I go into her room make small talk and ask, "I hear you want to get married" "Ya, I don't want to have a baby out of wedlock." In my head I thought, well the deed is already done but this is also coming from an 18 year old. Well this is going to be fun! "Okay you let me know what I can do." Her two requests: flowers and surprise me is what she said. I told this to the nurses and they were ecstatic. 

Oh we can be her brides maids and wear the yellow isolation gowns! One nurse said. Oh I know we can get a white OR gown and she can wear it. Mind you she has an epidural... So we get her a bunch of flowers and carrot cake for two. And she did end up wearing the OR gown. Oh geez.

I called the chaplain. "So my patient wants to get married before her baby comes. The only thing is...she is at a 10 and about to have the baby. How fast can you make it over here?" Within an hour my patient made change from a 4 to a 10. So the chaplain got there in 15 minutes. We did the ceremony in probably less than 5 as the doctors were saying okay we need to make this short and sweet. My patient had to have her baby in the OR because of the heart anomalies her baby had. We didn't want to push our luck on not making it to the OR but we wanted her to have what she wanted for her wedding. I took pictures and recorded a video on her phone. It was probably one of the weirdest experiences of my life.

So the doctor, anesthesiologist, and I roll her back to the OR. Of course the nurses are lined up against the wall clapping and playing wedding music. Some even went so far to make balloons out of the gloves and box them on their hands when we rolled her down. Oh the memory will forever be ingrained in my head. 

Baby made it out safe, patient made it out safe, and we had a wedding and a baby all in one day. 

We prepared for general conference and watched the saturday and sunday sessions. Chris and I went for a run and went to brunch one day and a hike on the other while listening to the morning session of conference. I love conference so much, a spiritual high. Hope that spiritual high stays with you all and to remember Elder Holland's talk!!!

We love you and miss you all!

Cameryn