Throughout the month, Elizabeth was my son's primary nurse in the NICU. As background, my son was born the previous month to his birth mother, and my husband and I were given immediate custody of this beautiful new baby. Unfortunately, 48 hours after his birth, he began the symptoms of withdrawal as his birth mother abused opiates while pregnant.
On our first visit to the NICU, Elizabeth began teaching us about Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, the withdrawal process, and how to handle our son as he endured treatment for over a month. Throughout his stay in the NICU, Elizabeth encouraged us to ask questions about his treatment. She always made us feel comfortable and welcome. One of my best memories is the first time she helped me give our son a bath. For his previous baths, it was not a good experience as he cried and was very upset. Elizabeth suggested a swaddle bath for him, and she showed me how to do it. He loved it and it made bath time a pleasurable experience.
Elizabeth has a way of making us (my husband and me) feel like everything is going to be all right. She handles herself with confidence, and her patients and their parents benefit from it. She is very genuine and caring, and possesses a delightful sense of humor. Having her as our son's caretaker as he recovered was truly a blessing to our family. We will never forget Elizabeth and her contribution to our family and our newborn son's care. She made an indelible mark on our family, and we will be forever grateful.