“Angels” is how Mickayla Zellner describes the act of kindness bestowed upon her last week at The Nebraska Medical Center.
But, it all started several weeks ago, when the expectant mother was going to a routine obstetrics office visit on campus.
“I was taking her back into the clinic and she seemed kind of quiet,” said Stacey Cook, medical assistant, ob/gyn, University Medical Associates. “When she sat down, she started to sob. Great big tears were streaming down her face. She was crying so hard she couldn’t even tell me what was wrong.”
When she finally could speak, Zellner told Cook she was scared about being a new mother and didn’t have anything for the baby – not even a car seat or crib. After the visit, Cook went to work to see what she could do.
“It breaks my heart to see people upset,” Cook said. “She touched me. I hated to see her upset.”
Through phone calls, word-of-mouth, friends and relatives, Cook and co-workers gathered enough things – a crib, baby blankets, clothes and bottles — to have a baby shower.
“One of our midwives even went out and spent some of her own money,” Cook said. “My son is an Eagle Scout and also helped us. It all came together.”
But, before the planned baby shower took place, Zellner delivered her first child, a 7-pound, 13-ounce baby boy. Instead, they had an impromptu shower in Zellner’s hospital room.
“I was very surprised,” Zellner said. “She’s an angel. I’m so thankful for what she did. I didn’t think she would do all that. It’s scary being a new mom, but very exciting.”
Lloyd Holm, M.D., was Zellner’s physician. “I thought that was extraordinarily kind to do something like that,” he said.