Elizabeth Lawmaster
July 2023
Elizabeth
Lawmaster
,
BSN, RN
NICU
Ascension St. Vincent Women's Hospital
Indianapolis
,
IN
United States
Without her assistance, we would not have been able to feed our baby.
We delivered our twin boys on May 10th via scheduled C-section. Baby A was taken immediately to the NICU for breathing assistance, and Baby B was able to stay with us until discharge three days later. On day five, at the direction of our pediatrician, we rushed to the ER at Peyton Manning Children's Hospital with Baby B. The team there was wonderful, I was so impressed that in addition to the medical care team, there was support staff in place to monitor our son's well-being, in addition to my own emotional well-being during such a scary time. They were gentle, yet efficient with their testing. Knowing I was still recovering from surgery I was offered food, rest, and medical supplies for myself which I felt was so thoughtful considering I wasn't the patient. We were transferred upstairs to PICU where our baby quickly became a VIP. All the nurses (even those who weren't directly caring for him) would stop in to check on us and ooh and ahh over our sweet tiny baby. The therapists treating him would often stop in between other patients just to hold him even if it wasn't time for his treatment. A Child Life Specialist dropped off a mobile, sound machine, stuffed animals, and books, in addition to setting up a camera so that we could see him 24 hours a day. He was even intentionally placed in a room directly across from the nurses' station so they would be able to see him at all times. All the people involved in his care during our ER and PICU stay were exceptional, and I can't begin to remember the names of everyone who helped us, but their care meant so much. It was determined that our baby contracted a virus from me in utero and was suffering the effects of viral meningitis. The staff offered reassurance and support for me above and beyond just medical advice, but the doctor also offered mother-to-mother advice to alleviate my 'Mom Guilt'. Covered in PPE and masks, they still gave me hugs and listened to my worries through my tears. Baby A was still in the NICU and was confirmed to be suffering from the same illness. Thus began the most difficult two weeks of my life, having two sick babies, in two hospitals, with two separate care teams. Juggling a toddler at home and my own recovery from surgery, all while driving back and forth from hospital to hospital. The Infectious Disease doctor was the only doctor overseeing BOTH babies and we saw him regularly, even on the weekends as he went to visit both our babies in person daily. For such a busy man with such an important job, I was amazed by the time he spent with us discussing their care. Through this experience, I learned that PICU and NICU care teams have the same end goal for patient care, but two vastly different approaches on how to get there. Baby B was discharged much sooner than Baby A, and was sent home on a feeding tube. It was exhausting learning to care for him and meet his needs, while still trying to visit Baby A, stay up to date on his care, and find balance with the ins and outs of daily life. While ALL of the caregivers in the NICU were amazing, they rotated from shift to shift so it was always a new face. However, we were blessed to have Elizabeth care for our son (Baby A) on several occasions during his stay and because of this, I feel like we got to know her more on a personal level. She shared with me her own experience growing up with identical twin sisters and told me all the wonderful things about twins and how much our older son would love his new brothers. We talked about her upcoming wedding and it brought a sense of normalcy to a chaotic and exhausting day, like two friends sitting and chatting. She would always ask how I was feeling with my recovery, seeking out a more comfortable chair for me to sit in when I would visit. She always asked how Baby B was doing at home and was always happy to answer my questions about his care and offer suggestions on how we could make him more comfortable. I wanted to nominate Elizabeth for this award because she personally took on the responsibility of helping me obtain the right medical supplies I needed for Baby B's care over a holiday weekend when we weren't able to reach the medical supply company. Without her assistance, we would not have been able to feed our baby. This extraordinary act eliminated the fear I had of watching my baby scream in hunger but without the ability to feed him properly. Baby B was NEVER her patient, but in her heart, she took on his care just as much as she did for his brother. In a unique twist of fate, the baby she helped feed that holiday weekend is named Bennett, and after her wedding on July 1st, that is now her new last name. I truly feel like Elizabeth Lawmaster will carry a part of our family with her each time she signs her name. We will continue to be grateful for the care provided to our whole family by the entire staff of the St. Vincent Women's Hospital NICU.