But Ruth has no choice but to continue doing her job and obey the order. Understandably Ruth is devastated both by the actions of the racist parents and her supervisor for allowing them to make this discriminatory decision without being challenged. And a note to this effect is put on the baby’s file, that no African American personnel are to care for the child. Afterwards Ruth is instructed by her superior to not touch the baby again. So, after Ruth’s assessment, they make a complaint. Once Ruth has finished her examination she finds that there is a problem – the parents of little Davis (named after the last president of the confederacy) are extremely racist white supremacists and have a problem with Ruth touching their child. Ruth does her job, finding that the baby has a heart murmur, which she notes to refer to the paediatrician. The mother Brittany gave birth the night before with a different nurse and Ruth is sent to assess the baby in the morning. Back to the present, and a new couple come into the hospital where Ruth works. Christina had her baby via surrogate, Adisa had five children and Ruth became a L&D nurse. The children watching – Christina (Mina’s daughter), Adisa (Ruth’s sister who at the time went by the name Rachel before she legally changed it), and Ruth – were each affected differently by this event.

Ms Mina gave birth unexpectedly at home and Ruth’s mother was there to help her deliver.

Her mother worked as a maid for a rich, white family – The Hallowells. She is also a mother to Edison, who made the Highest Honors list for every semester of his high school career. Initially, we are told the story of many other patients that Ruth helped to deliver their children, showing just what a great nurse she is. Ruth Jefferson is a labor and delivery (L&D) nurse. But then the baby goes into cardiac distress whilst Ruth is alone in the nursery.Ĭlick here to view on Amazon > Detailed Description

The parents are white supremacists and don’t want Ruth, who is African American, to touch their child.

During her shift, Ruth begins a routine checkup on a newborn, only to find that she’s been reassigned to another patient. Ruth Jefferson is a labor and delivery nurse at a Connecticut hospital with more than twenty years’ experience.

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult