Humankindness at Work: Jessica Taylor, RNC-OB - Prayer & Presence in Labor & Delivery

Jessica Taylor’s connection to labor and delivery is deeply personal. Her mother’s challenging pregnancy, requiring 109 days of bedrest, and Jessica’s subsequent 18-day stay in the NICU with her twin brother, became a foundational story in her life. “The nurses were incredible. I grew up hearing about their kindness and dedication,” Jessica recalled, remembering her mother’s stories and photo albums. These early experiences ignited a lifelong passion to support families welcoming new life.

Now, with over 11 years of experience as a Labor and Delivery nurse, including three at St. Luke’s Health - Sugar Land Hospital, Jessica finds daily joy in her work – from the spa-like private suites in the Family Birthing Center, to a team that supports and cares for one another, to the opportunity to pray with patients and colleagues. “Working at St. Luke’s is rewarding in so many ways,” Jessica said, emphasizing the profound connection she shares with patients and their families.

She carries one particular story close to her heart: Years after previously delivering a patient’s stillborn baby girl at another hospital, Jessica learned the same patient was scheduled for an induction at St. Luke’s. Jessica surprised the patient by coming in on her scheduled day off to be there for the delivery “God aligned the stars,” she said, recalling the emotional delivery of a healthy baby boy.

Driven by a desire to provide support to families experiencing loss, Jessica founded Heaven Instead, a nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance for end-of-life expenses to bereaved parents dealing with the loss of a child due to stillbirth or fetal death within the hospital stay. Since 2018, Heaven Instead has provided nearly $140,000 in services to over 300 families in the Houston area.

When Jessica’s not at the hospital or working with families through Heaven Instead, she enjoys traveling, reading, and staying active with her husband and two children. And when she’s on shift at St. Luke's Health - Sugar Land Hospital, Jessica doesn't just deliver babies; she delivers hope, healing, and a profound sense of connection, reminding us all of the power of human compassion.