Bennie was on her second cup of coffee when Mrs Saltman, wife of an NE engineer came into sickbay in labor. The scared look on Mary’s face, along with her painful waddle, made the doctor set the cup down and meet her halfway across the room. “It’s alright Mary, there’s nothing to worry about.” Bennie put one arm around the woman’s waist and took her hand in her own to help her walk to a private room where the delivery would take place.

The baby was delivered three hours and twenty minutes later. A healthy boy. The father had joined Mary shortly after her arrival and he proudly proclaimed the newborn to be, “Robert…this is my son, Robert.” He couldn’t stop looking at the tiny baby in his arms, swaddled in a blue blanket.

Making sure everyone in the small family was doing alright and had what they needed, Bennie stepped out of the room to give them some privacy and let them bond. She wasn’t aware that she continued through the rest of her shift with a bright smile on her face and a twinkle in her eyes.

—Royce, CMO