When your baby is born at 26 weeks, you enter a world you were never prepared for. The NICU becomes your home, and the nurses become the people who help carry you through fear, uncertainty, and hope. Carrie and Bre were E’s primary nurses on the weekends, Bre during the day shift, and Carrie during the night shift, and together, they became two of the most important people in our son’s story.

Carrie was the very first nurse I added to my like list because of her gentle spirit and genuine kindness. From the very beginning, she spoke life over E. Even in moments when I felt overwhelmed by fear, she reassured me that he would make it. She carried hope for him when it was hard for me to carry it myself. Whenever she sensed my anxiety, she would take the time to show me his lung images and explain his progress in a way that helped me understand and breathe again. She never rushed me, never dismissed my questions, and never made me feel like a burden. Carrie helped me become confident as E’s mom. She gave me opportunities to care for him and intentionally stepped back so I could bond with my baby. She saw me not just as a worried parent, but as a mother learning to love and care for her child in the most fragile circumstances. We now lovingly call her E’s auntie nurse, because that is truly what she became to our family.

Bre made an immediate impact on both my husband and me. He instantly felt at peace with her and trusted the way she cared for E. Over time, Bre became more than just a nurse; she became a friend. We talked about our faith, encouraged one another, and she brought moments of joy into a place filled with so much uncertainty. She saw me as a person, not just a NICU mom. She even bought thoughtful gifts for E and me because she knew receiving gifts was my love language. That act of kindness made me feel deeply seen and cared for. We laughed together, supported each other, and created moments of light in the middle of darkness. Bre also became E’s auntie nurse, and I will forever be grateful for the love she showed our son and our family.

Carrie and Bre didn’t just provide excellent medical care; they provided emotional care, spiritual encouragement, and human connection. They helped transform one of the most traumatic seasons of our lives into a story filled with compassion, dignity, and hope. They loved our son, and they loved us. Because of them, I found strength I didn’t know I had, and I was able to grow into my role as E’s mother. Because of Carrie and Bre, E didn’t just have nurses caring for him; he had people who loved him, believed in him, and helped carry him safely into his future. Their compassion will forever live in our family’s story.