Gretta works in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the University of Louisville Hospital. Four years ago, my son was born at 26 weeks, via an emergency C-Section. Gretta was in the delivery room wrapping his little body in cling wrap and placing him in his incubator, where he would live for the first two months of his life. A few hours after he was stabilized, Gretta came to my room to talk with me and gave me two pictures of him. She told me everything about my baby boy and warned me of the roller coaster ride, I was about to endure.
The first few days were agonizing, I looked at this tiny baby and was not able to help him. I remember the first thing Gretta had me do to feel a bond with him, was simply having me touch him. I was so afraid to put my hands in the box. He was so fragile. Then one day, Gretta asked if I had held him. When I said no, Gretta replied, "we'll change that". She had me put my hands inside his incubator and placed his tiny two-pound body in my hands. Gretta asked me, "if two pounds was heavier or lighter than I imagined?" He was heavier than I thought.
One day my little man became very ill. Gretta stood by my side holding me while I cried, not knowing what the future held for my tiny miracle. She sat across from me in the dark, as I sat at his bedside, he was not going to be without his mommy while he was sick. Once he got over his illness and things were improving, Gretta placed him on my bare skin for his first kangaroo session. Soon it was time for this tiny baby, whom she showed so much love, to go home with his parents, whom she had also cared for.
Three years later, Gretta was right by my side once again when my triplet daughters came into this world, eight weeks early. Once again, Gretta reminded me of the "crazy ride." Luckily this time, she encouraged me and my husband to do the same things as before, changing them, taking their temperatures and feeding them.
Gretta showed my son, daughters, and all the infants she cares for so much love and affection. She provides a tremendous amount of support to the patients, parents, and families. Gretta truly is the mom when mom can't be there. We will never be able to thank Gretta enough for her hospitality and the exceptional care she provided to us and our children. Thank you, Gretta, for being an extraordinary nurse.