By Abby Ammons
Brave Women Series - Abby's Story
It was the scariest time in my life. I have written of it often, as it was a defining point in my marriage, motherhood, life, and faith. But this is not a story of my own bravery; this is a story about a stranger’s simple act of bravery that saved a life.
When I was 10 days postpartum from having my firstborn, still sore and exhausted and unsure of everything, my tiny daughter refused to eat. She became lethargic and her skin turned gray as I frantically tried to get her to nurse. We raced her to the hospital, panicked.
The hospital can be an intimidating place, and time seems to move impossibly slow within those halls. When we were finally given a room and seen by not one but two doctors, our hopes of finding compassion and aid were dashed. As we held our listless newborn, we were made to feel foolish; they told us we were simply overreacting as new parents.
"As we held our listless newborn, we were made to feel foolish; they told us we were simply overreacting as new parents."
“Some parents bring their first baby in for every little cough!” When we pointed out her gray complexion to the nurse, he blamed the fluorescent lights. My face flushed hot, and I wavered between the feeling of anger from the belittlement and sheer panic as I recognized we were going to be discharged.
By the grace of God, the same nurse who declared the lights to be the culprit for our infant’s lifeless tint decided to bring a nurse from the Labor and Delivery floor to teach me how to nurse. Though the discharge paperwork was ready and she wasn’t a lactation consultant, he thought this was a pretty good idea since it would have been at least three days until lactation could fit me in. It would later be realized as a decision that saved my daughter’s life.
"By the grace of God, the same nurse who declared the lights to be the culprit for our infant’s lifeless tint decided to bring a nurse from the Labor and Delivery floor to teach me how to nurse... It would later be realized as a decision that saved my daughter’s life."
Nurse Sue quietly entered the room. She was silent but respectful, not once asking if this was our first child or anything of the sort. She wore dusty-rose nail polish; it’s funny the details you remember during trauma. She observed our daughter nursing for a while, then just walked out of our room. Quickly and without fanfare, she led the two doctors and our nurse back in. “Did anyone notice that this baby is retracting?” she demanded.
Everyone stared in horror. Our tiny room began to fill as staff poured in. Nurse Sue exited the room as quietly as she had entered, and I never saw the heroine of this story again.
They stole my baby out of my arms to run myriad tests. We were finally told it was narrowed down to an infection or her heart, and that we needed to pray that it was her heart; with our baby being so small, it would likely take too long to figure out which infection was ravaging her body. We found ourselves praying for a heart defect. We later learned that our prayers were answered — and she had not one but two defects.
"We found ourselves praying for a heart defect. We later learned that our prayers were answered — and she had not one but two defects."
A week later, she had open-heart surgery. She came out of surgery with her chest still open, and we could see her fierce little heart pumping under a bandage. A perfect heart.
When we held her for the first time, our perfect baby was incredibly frail but her eyes were alert and eager to search our faces. Our fighter, our warrior – she survived. She has gone on to thrive, now an active 10-year-old, happily singing behind me as I write. She is alive. She is perfect.
All because of a nurse named Sue.
It is easier to go with the flow, agree with the masses, and keep our heads down than it is to declare something to be wrong. Speaking up for strangers, especially those who have been predetermined to be dramatic or difficult, is no simple act, yet Nurse Sue did not waver in her assessment as she demanded others to take us seriously. Nurse Sue refused to let the opinions of others, even those who were in positions of power, cast a shadow on her judgment.
"It is easier to go with the flow, agree with the masses, and keep our heads down than it is to declare something to be wrong."
I doubt she thought about her actions as anything brave. She likely regarded them as part of her job, simply speaking up on behalf of her patients. Yet her defiance that day to the entire medical team changed our lives forever.
Day to day, we may not know the ripples we cause by simple acts of kindness. We may never see the good effects our daily actions bring. Yet be encouraged that the good you choose to do –simple yet brave acts– affect others in ways that cause them to praise God for you, to say your name around their dinner table as they pray over you, to write an entire story about you a decade later to proclaim your goodness.
"We may not know the ripples we cause by simple acts of kindness. We may never see the good effects our daily actions bring. Yet be encouraged that the good you choose to do –simple yet brave acts– affect others in ways that cause them to praise God for you..."
Brave daily actions change the world. Brave daily actions glorify God.
"Brave daily actions change the world. Brave daily actions glorify God."
Stay brave. Do good.
Brave Woman Manifesto
Make sure to check back next week as another courageous Sister shares her story. And by the way...
You are Brave!
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About Abby
Abby Ammons is a military spouse raising two fiery and brilliant daughters with her dashing husband in North Carolina. As Community Outreach Manager for the Second Service Foundation, she uses the power of storytelling to inspire, educate, and support military-connected entrepreneurs. Abby is a faith-based hope*writer and dog rescuer who enjoys wit and copious amounts of coffee when shared with friends.