We came to Swedish Ballard expecting the arrival of a healthy baby girl. Unfortunately, shortly after delivery, it was clear she needed a little extra help. Before being able to hold her, she was whisked away to the special care nursery. In that moment, my heart broke. Our baby was placed on CPAP and we could do nothing but wait for her tiny lungs to open and for her to be able to breathe on her own.
That day was one of the worst of our lives. I've never felt more helpless, like a piece of me had been taken away. I'm writing to you because I truly don't think we would have made it through this experience without our amazing team of nurses, one in particular. Ashley Nguyen was a Godsend. It was clear from the first moment we met her that our little girl was in the best hands possible. She made a gut-wrenching experience just a little bit better, and for that, we owe her the world.
She was patient, compassionate and incredibly knowledgeable. We asked a million questions and she didn't hesitate to provide us with a million answers, all while smiling empathetically. I know we must not have been the easiest parents to deal with. I was an emotional mess, while my husband wanted to understand what every number, beep, and bubble meant. She cared for us just as much as she cared for our baby.
Not once did we worry about leaving our fragile, beautiful daughter in her hands. I was able to focus on recovering from surgery and we felt confident stepping out of the room whether it was to grab a cup of coffee or to visit with our family. She allowed our family to breathe a little easier.
There are no words to accurately express the depth of our gratitude. Thank you again for your amazing team of nurses! They are superheroes.