I have attempted to write this nomination more times than I can count and have always found that words could never be enough to describe the gratitude and love we feel for Bonnie Olson Salmi and how deserving she is of this award. We met Bonnie just over a year ago when our twins were unexpectedly born at 31 weeks and admitted to the UMass Memorial NICU. She cared for our babies when they were at their tiniest and most fragile. Over the next month or so, Bonnie would routinely check-in and was always so compassionate to the painful experience that was leaving our children each day in the care of strangers, helpless to protect them in so many ways. As we got to know Bonnie, we learned that she herself had delivered her twin boys prematurely at 24 weeks at UMass Memorial. After a few years, she became a nurse at the NICU that saved her children and dedicated herself to providing the utmost care to families going through their own NICU journeys. We can't quite explain the depth of our gratitude for Bonnie and the love she showed our children during their time in the NICU.
She got to know us and made us feel safe knowing our babies would be in her care. When we were moved to the Special Care Nursery, Bonnie once again provided care for our babies. One evening in mid-July our son was once again having difficulty breathing and we left the hospital that night feeling defeated and afraid. I had woken up sometime around 3:00 a.m. to pump and called to check in on the twins. Bonnie came to the phone and told us that she had had to call respiratory support for our little boy as his breathing issues did not resolve. I knew she could hear in my voice that I was terrified and heartbroken. In those moments when I felt so alone, Bonnie spent a few extra minutes on the line with me reassuring me that things would be okay. She had told me that she would be in the Special Care Nursery and have the twins again later that day. Later that evening, we noticed that Bonnie had not been there but did not think much of it assuming she had been shifted to another family or pod. Bonnie went out of her way that day to reach out to us to let us know that she had had to call out from work because her son was ill. She checked in to see how our son was doing and told us that she wanted us to know that she had been thinking of us. It was so heartwarming to know that amidst her own stress, Bonnie took the time to think of us.
We later learned that life in the NICU was only the beginning of Bonnie's difficult journey as a parent. As a mother of prematurely born twins, Bonnie has not only had to have the strength to handle all of the extensive care that follows a life in the NICU but has also handled ongoing health issues with her two sons that would shake any parent to their core. She has battled g tube feeding, a child facing cancer and heart failure — more than any child or parent should ever have to bear. Despite facing such heartache, Bonnie has never complained. She has lived her life with such an attitude of gratitude and is such a beacon of hope for all that know her.
Since leaving the NICU, we have continued to keep in touch with Bonnie. She has been there for several of the questions we have had as worried first-time parents of preemies and offered to come to check on our babies if they were ever sick. She has celebrated every accomplishment and milestone with us since leaving the hospital and has become an integral part of our family. We can't thank Bonnie enough for the work she does and the care she provides. We feel honored to know her and so incredibly thankful for her.