Community Regional Medical Center’s labor and delivery nurse Terrie Wilson was honored by the Trauma Intervention Programs (TIP) on Sept. 17 for her work in helping families who lose newborns. The “Salute to On-Scene Heroes” awards ceremony recognized the efforts of emergency responders from agencies providing direct support to the victims of traumatic events. Honorees were selected by TIP volunteers from local firefighters, peace officers and medical personnel who are on the front line every day and go above and beyond their assigned duties.

Wilson was honored as a 2010 On-Scene Hero and accepted the award on behalf of the “whole team of heroes” she works with in the hospital’s maternal child department. Wilson has been a registered nurse at Community Regional for five years and goes out of her way to provide comfort and invaluable mementos of a lost infant to families during their grief. One family who lost a newborn said Wilson lifted their spirits by giving them closure and making them feel it was okay to let go. Wilson said she tells grieving parents that being a mother or a father is not determined by how long a child’s lifespan is – every moment and memory should be treasured.

TIP is a national voluntary, non-profit organization that works closely with local first-responders to provide help to those emotionally traumatized in emergency situations. TIP of Fresno was founded in 1994 and serves the Central Valley.