As a new mother, everyone thinks of the happy ending when you are driving home with your new baby safely bundled in their brand new car seat, and you are headed home for what will be a major change for the rest of our lives. My situation, unfortunately, was different. The first thing that every mother wants to do when their baby is born is to hold their newborn in her arms and meet them for the first time. My experience with my daughter was not the usual experience that every mother goes through. After she was born I did not get to hold her and she was admitted to the NICU immediately requiring more medical attention that we thought. My heart was shattered. I did not get to experience our first bonding moment as mother and daughter, but I understood that everything was for a reason. I always kept in mind that soon I would be able to hold her and care for her as I dreamed of.
When I would visit my daughter in the NICU, I would see other parents hold their babies. I was not that lucky because my baby needed minimal stimulation. On my day of discharge, Alyssa was my baby's nurse. I had already been here for four days and I still had not been able to hold her. The day I was discharged, I made my way to NICU to go see my daughter before I went home. I saw another mom holding her baby and I couldn't help myself and started crying because I wanted to hold my baby. I was sad and heartbroken that I still hadn't held my baby and that I was leaving the hospital empty handed because my baby had to stay.
Later that day I called Alyssa to check on my baby. Alyssa told me that if I came back to visit her before her shift was over, she would let me hold her. Understanding the experience a mother goes through when her newborn is under intensive care helps. Alyssa understood my need as a mother. I was prepared and I went back that evening. I held her in my arms and the emotions that went through me were unexplainable. Alyssa let me hold her for the first time, and she was already four days old. I can never forget Alyssa's words to me, "I saw the look on your face when you saw the other mother holding her baby and I wanted to give that opportunity," she said. With my daughter in my arms, I felt complete. To this day, I can't thank her enough for letting me hold her. In this situation, Alyssa not only cared for my daughter, but she went above and beyond by comforting me as a mother. She saw my need. It's easy to feel like a useless outsider while the competent medical staff cares for your newborn. But your presence is terribly important for the overall health of both mom and baby and Alyssa understood that. Alyssa gave me an opportunity that no one else had ever thought of acknowledging and she deserves the DAISY Award for her extraordinary care.