One Year After Giving Birth in Japan, Mom Receives the Sweetest Surprise from Her Labor and Delivery Nurses (Exclusive)

• Former professional soccer player Hailey Hinkley gave birth to her second child in a hospital in Japan after moving there for her husband's job

• Hailey recalls the nurses being so warm, even going so far as to sew jerseys for her new baby using Hailey's old jersey and her husband's current uniform

• One year after giving birth, Hailey received a "Happy Birthday" video from the nurses holding the jerseys, which was captured in a viral TikTok

In a heartwarming display of care, a group of nurses in Japan surprised new mom Hailey Hinkley by sending a video message to celebrate her baby’s 1st birthday.

The sweet gesture was shared in a now-viral TikTok, featuring a video of all the nurses who were on duty the night Hailey gave birth, and it included special jerseys that they made for her baby girl using her old soccer jersey and her husband’s basketball jersey.

“I just put my daughter to sleep when I opened my phone and saw the message and it made me so happy but emotional thinking about the whole experience a year ago,” Hailey recalls exclusively to PEOPLE when describing her reaction to receiving the video.

This emotional response was not just about the surprise itself but also about the memories it brought back from her childbirth experience in Japan after moving there for her husband's career. Despite the initial nervousness due to a previous C-section experience in the U.S., Hailey found the care in Japan to be incredibly comforting and supportive.

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Though she had to undergo another C-section, the hospital environment and the nurses’ attentiveness made the process much smoother than she anticipated. “I stayed in the hospital the night before my C-section and the nurses did everything to make sure I was mentally okay going into surgery,” she explains.

The hospital provided amenities that felt like a “really nice hotel,” complete with excellent food and extended family visitation hours, she adds.

“On the day of surgery, my husband was with me and they had nurses that watched my 1-year-old,” Hailey remembers. “They fed her, made sure she napped, and did crafts with her.”

One of the most meaningful moments for Hailey was the personal connection she formed with her main nurse, who spoke to her in English and went above and beyond to ensure Hailey felt supported.

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“She printed out a ‘cheat sheet’ translating everything she thought would be important if she wasn’t there," Hailey shares.

She continues, “She covered it in pictures of my family that she found on my social media which really helped me because she knew how hard it was for me to have to be away from my 1-year-old.” The nurse also brought Hailey smoothies during her shift, and even crafted the jerseys for her baby.

The jerseys became a symbol of the nurses’ dedication and creativity. Hailey, who had retired from professional soccer before having children, found it deeply touching to see her newborn daughter wearing her uniform.

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“I was a professional soccer player and my husband is a professional basketball player so my nurse went home and sewed my old jersey and my husband’s current jersey to surprise me and take pictures of my baby in it,” Hailey shares. “I retired before having kids so it was really special.”

Hailey’s experience profoundly shaped her view of Japan and its healthcare system. “I have told everyone I refuse to give birth anywhere else after giving birth in Japan,” she notes. “The way they truly care for their patients like they are family is nothing I’ve ever experienced back home.”

The mom-of-two adds, “This is not just a healthcare thing, this is how they do everything out here and it is so admirable … I wish that every woman could experience this.”

Read the original article on People