Labor and delivery nurse wins DAISY for the care she provided a fellow nurse who suffered complications while delivering her baby girl.
By Maureen Gilmer, Riley Children’s Health senior writer, mgilmer1@iuhealth.org
Adeline “Addie” Masten wasn’t expecting a complicated delivery with her first child, but she knew she wanted to be among friends in the Maternity Tower at Riley Hospital for Children when the time came.
That’s because Masten herself is a labor and delivery nurse at Riley, and she knew that if anything were to go wrong, Riley was the place to be.
As it happened, things did go wrong, and the nurse/first-time mom was grateful for her medical team during a frightening labor, delivery and recovery.
Masten wanted to recognize one particular member of that team – labor and delivery nurse Lide Segovia-Tomcho – and was delighted to be on hand when Segovia-Tomcho was honored with a DAISY award last week.
“Lide is an exceptional advocate for her patients,” Masten wrote in her nomination letter. “As a Riley labor and delivery nurse, I have the privilege of working with Lide, (but) on Sept. 7, 2024, she helped take care of me during the emergent delivery of my daughter.”
Segovia-Tomcho, born in Venezuela and educated in Washington, D.C., began her medical career at IU Health Methodist Hospital 10 years ago as an interpreter/doula before earning her nursing degree.
She has a passion for women’s health and moved with the maternity team at Methodist to Riley when the Maternity Tower opened in 2021.
While she has worked with Masten for years on the night shift in labor and delivery at Riley, she was not part of her immediate care team the night her friend came in to deliver her baby girl.
But that changed when it became apparent that something was wrong.
“Prior to my own labor and delivery experience, I would frequently express my appreciation for the way Lide connects with and advocates for her patients,” Masten said. “I have watched her help patients through incredibly difficult situations and often find myself thinking how lucky her patients are to have her as a nurse.”
This time Masten was on the receiving end of that care when her kidneys stopped functioning, and she became confused and incoherent at times.
“Though Lide was not my primary nurse that night, she was brought into my room to help figure out what was going on and how to proceed,” Masten said. “According to my husband, Lide was able to communicate with me and help me decide that proceeding with a C-section was our best option.”
Although her baby, Avery, was born healthy, Masten was moved to intensive care for a short time while her kidneys recovered from the stress on her body. Both mom and daughter are doing well today.
Masten and Avery returned to Riley to surprise Segovia-Tomcho for the DAISY ceremony recently.
“I’m glad to be able to give back to someone who has supported me through everything and would do anything to make sure I’m OK,” Masten said.
Segovia-Tomcho, married and the mother of two children in college, said she is honored to receive the award, especially coming from a fellow nurse whom she admires, but being the center of attention is out of her comfort zone.
“It’s weird to be in the spotlight,” she laughed, attempting to shift the conversation away from her and onto Masten.
“She’s a brilliant person, so strong and so smart,” Segovia-Tomcho said of her colleague. “I know she was super scared … but everybody was working together to take care of her and doing what we do every day.”
One meaningful way they took care of her was by capturing photos in the operating room and later when Masten was still recovering.
“She took photos of my baby and of my husband (Andrew) holding her for the first time. My memory leading up to delivery is limited, and I do not remember the first several hours of my daughter’s life. I am grateful to have those photos to look back on since I was not present in that moment,” Masten said.
“While I often feel sad or guilty for missing out on bonding with my daughter after delivery, I find comfort in knowing that my co-workers were there with her. I am certain that Lide loved on her while I was unable to.”
Masten said Segovia-Tomcho gives the same compassionate care to all of her patients.
“Between her protective nature and courage to speak up for what she feels is right, Lide is a fierce patient advocate. My husband and I will never forget the way she cared for our family.”
Nominate a nurse who exemplifies excellent clinical skills and compassionate care here.
Photos submitted and by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org