We had wanted a "natural" delivery, but it was anything but that. Being nearly two weeks overdue, I was started on gels to see if that might get something going. After four days, it was decided I would be started on Pitocin.

On Friday, July 10, 1998 at 8 a.m., it was started. At 8 p.m. that evening, very LITTLE was happening. I was given a shot of morphine and sent to bed...like anyone could sleep. The Pitocin was to be started again the next morning around 8. Well, there were a slew of deliveries, and it didn't get started until 2:30 the afternoon of July 11.

My day nurse was Cheryl Forcier, whose mother I have seen at art shows in Racine. She tried to keep me encouraged and empowered while lying attached to the monitors. LONG story shortened, the anesthesiologist came in at about 3 a.m., July 12 to give me an epidural.

Dr Cardwell came in to check about my progress as my Nurse Midwife Carol had called him in. It was decided that I would have a c-section. I was not the least bit scared of that having had a number of other surgeries AND being the second of eight children all delivered that way.

I remember the delivery and not much after that except to say that my nurse, Kathy Thorsen, came to take me to my room after recovery. She was so kind. She told me that I had done a "really good job" and that my "baby is BEAUTIFUL!"

Madeline is now 10 years old. I think specifically of these two nurses who took me through a nearly three-day ordeal. I have wanted to thank them again personally and I hope if they are still at Meriter, this will be passed along. It was nice to be taken care of so well by fellow Meriter employees. Bravo and thanks to both!!!

Ann-Marie