I have a uterine anomaly that has resulted in the premature births of our three children, born at 32 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks gestation. My lifelong goal was to bring a baby home from the hospital, without needing a NICU stay. I know that goal seems silly to most, and while we had excellent experiences within the NICU, I missed the experience of being wheeled out with my baby, balloons, and flowers. It tore a little piece of my heart waiting in the vestibule for my rides each day; Watching all the other new "normal" mommies being wheeled out, dads nervously pulling the car around, and the families driving off together towards happiness. I cried. Every single time, I cried. And I longed for that experience. Our third child, while technically premature at 36 weeks, was able to help fulfill that dream. Unlike her older brother and sister, we had the much-desired pomp and circumstance, with the cheesiest smiles and lots of tears, as we were wheeled off of the post-partum floor to return to our home as a family.
However, not to be outdone by her siblings, at 5 months old, she required a PICU stay for RSV. Having two children in the NICU, we were no longer frightened of the alarms, medical equipment, or assisting with cares. We were, however, terrified of losing our daughter. You see, two years prior, her older sister, passed away in the NICU due to stage 4 NEC and sepsis. While there is no greater joy than being a parent; there is no greater sorrow than watching your child take their last breath. Seeing my daughter in the PICU, lethargic, listless, and struggling to breathe, brought us right back to those very difficult moments and memories of her sister's passing. I don't think there are any words to describe how terrified and helpless we felt watching her struggle too. The support, genuine empathy, and compassion of Danica and the entire PICU staff made us feel that she was in the best hands possible. Danica listened to our concerns as parents, respected our requests, and encouraged us to advocate for our baby's needs. She communicated clearly and frequently to BOTH my husband and me, whether we were present in the PICU or at home. She understood our fears, provided much-needed hope, and treated not only our daughter but our family as a whole. The epitome of family-centered care at its finest. The reassurance, kindness, professionalism, and love we witnessed amongst her day to day interactions with our family were an absolute blessing. We think about and pray for Danica often, and we thank Advocate Children's Hospital for employing such wonderful nurses as Danica!