Kristi Primm, Unit Secretary, Blessed Beginnings/Obstetrics, received a Who’s Your Angel nomination from patient Allison Puli. The Foundation Office presented the Who’s Your Angel award on September 4.
Allison stated, “On Saturday, August 16th, I woke up with irregular contractions that were easy to manage. I didn't think anything of it because I had been having prodromal labor for several days. However, at about 10:15, contractions started coming on very intensely, and I realized I was in labor. I thought I would still have a long way to go, so I decided to call my mom who was an hour away to come watch our toddler, so my husband and I could go to the hospital later in the day. At 10:50 while still at home, I suddenly felt the urge to push. I knew this meant that baby was coming very soon. We called my mom and told her to meet us at the hospital instead. At 11:00, we were heading out the door when my water broke. I called the Blessed Beginnings Labor & Delivery to let them know we were on our way and that I would need someone to meet me with a wheelchair.”
“We arrived at about 11:10. Kristi Primm and a couple of nurses were waiting for me at the emergency room. I instantly got another contraction and without even seeing who was around me, leaned on Kristi for physical support through it. I quickly got wheeled upstairs where the medical team realized baby was crowning. I had asked for a water in the elevator, and Kristi ran and brought it back to me in the labor & delivery room.” Then she said, "My name is Kristi. Would you like me to stay with you?" I instantly said "YES!" I instinctively started holding her hand through my contractions, and she rubbed my back. She offered me water between every contraction. Finally, about just 15 minutes after arriving in Labor & Delivery, our baby girl was born at 11:26! Everything happened so fast that my husband and doula both ended up missing the birth. (My husband was still downstairs waiting for my mom to take our toddler, and my doula was on her way to the hospital.) But thanks to Kristi and the wonderful labor & delivery team, I never once felt alone. I felt confident and empowered in that moment to give birth even without my support system present. Kristi became my support system. A few minutes following the birth, I came to my senses, looked up and saw Kristi for the first time. I had to ask her name again after the chaos that had happened!
“This stranger had been providing me unparalleled labor support from the moment I arrived at the Emergency Room. Kristi saw my support people were missing, and she stepped in to fill the gap for me. God used her to be a great source of strength through each contraction. Kristi is a unit secretary, but she acted like she had attended a hundred births before. She could have just gotten me settled in my room and gone back to her desk. But she stayed with me. She went above and beyond her job duties. The next day, she even delivered a toy for our baby to our postpartum room. God placed her on that shift on that specific day to help me through one of the most beautiful experiences of my life, and I will always remember her and be thankful!”
The “Who’s Your Angel” program is an opportunity for patients and their families to express their appreciation to anyone in the Health System who had a positive influence in their healthcare experience. When the donor makes a financial gift of any size in the name of the employee and writes up a story sharing the experience, the Foundation deposits the gift to the patient care area or restricted fund that most closely matches the employee(s) being honored or the reason for the patient’s time with the Health System. This donation was deposited to the Blessed Beginnings Fund. One hundred percent of Foundation gifts are designated to caring for patients in need.
Any staff member can be nominated for a Who’s Your Angel award, and nomination forms can be found in a surplus of Health System departments from Palmyra to Hannibal, Pittsfield, to Golden and more! For more information regarding the “Who’s Your Angel” program, or giving of any kind to Blessing Health System, contact the Blessing Foundation at 217-223-8400, Ext. 4800, or go online to blessinghealth.org/angel