Perhaps one of the best things about nurses is their dedication to their patients. They work to provide the best care possible. Nurses aren’t just there to give medical care, they provide hope and support during hard times.

This is no different for Daphney Walker. If this name sounds familiar, you may have had a baby at Brookwood Baptist Medical Center sometime in the past 30 years or heard about a story that went viral earlier this year.

Brittany Perryman had heard about Daphney since she could remember. When she was born, Daphney had been Brittany’s mother’s labor and delivery nurse, and Brittany’s mother never stopped talking about how kind, wonderful, and supportive Daphney had been. When Brittany found herself back at Brookwood Baptist Medical Center 25 years later, this time to deliver her own child, who else was there but Daphney? 

“One of my coworkers knew Brittany, and told me that they were very excited to hear that I was still around and working in Labor and Delivery,” said Daphney. “It seems like her mother has kept that picture for 25 years and she swears her mother had talked about me since she could remember!”

And when the story went viral on social media in February, Daphney couldn’t believe it.

“When I first saw it, I thought, ‘Lord, what are you doing with this?’ I had to try and figure out how to say thank you and appreciate everything people were saying and not get big headed! One of the best things that came from it was the hundreds of nurses and stories that came up in the comments. All those names were great to see.”

“I’ve also had people see me and know who I am from the story going viral! It’s an extreme compliment, and I just hope that the Lord’s doing something with it bigger than me. It’s a story that illustrates how the Lord works. My prayer every day will use me to give them what he needs done for them.”

Daphney always knew she wanted to be a nurse, and it’s helped her in the 40 years since she’s started.

“Getting toward the end of my nursing career, I’ve realized that if you love what you do, it makes a lasting difference. Nurses are the skilled laborers of the health force. We’re where the rubber meets the road, where orders are carried out and where stuff gets done. It’s real, “she said.

“I don’t have to wonder every day why I’m doing this. Our patients are the reason why we work long, hard hours. When patients see that they can trust you, that you are taking care of them in the way that you’d want your family taken care of, that’s the best thing. In my world, everyone’s trying to get you healed and through a crisis, and the nurses can make the difference. Labor is hard, but the hug and the thank you at the end of the day makes it worth it.”