Jordanne B Newman
October 2024
Jordanne B
Newman
,
RN
L&D
IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital
Muncie
,
IN
United States
Each concern we would throw at her she would put time into finding us an answer and a solution. Danne allowed my sister to truly feel like Mom even though she wasn't able to have her baby growing inside of her.
In December 2021, my sister, her husband, and I started a journey that would be filled with challenges, uncertainty, the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. A journey of surrogacy to allow my sister and her husband to have a baby of their own and become parents. This journey came to completion with the sweetest victory in February when we welcomed sweet baby L into the world at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital. This journey of IVF and embryo transfers consisted of four embryo transfers resulting in a devastating 16-week miscarriage, a chemical pregnancy, a complete failed transfer, and then....L.
With that fourth transfer and positive results, most would be thrilled and full of excitement. We didn't feel like we could breathe. Thoughts of doubt and "what ifs" filled the space where joy should have been. Because of our struggles, my advanced maternal age, and the fact that the pregnancy was an IVF pregnancy, we would be cared for by our doctor and his staff at Ball Hospital. One person on this team we cannot overlook as going above and beyond for us and helping to slowly replace the thoughts of fear and doubt. Jordanne Newman, who we only knew as Danne, was our rockstar. She was there for every heartbeat check, ultrasound, vaccination, concerned conversation, and victory for us.
Danne would come greet us each time with a big smile and make us feel like we were her favorite patients and true VIPs. Each concern we would throw at her she would put time into finding us an answer and a solution. Danne allowed my sister to truly feel like Mom even though she wasn't able to have her baby growing inside of her.
Knowing our situation was tricky and there were additional steps that needed to be taken to meet Indiana legal requirements for surrogacy, she followed up with us and other departments to make certain nothing was forgotten. She arranged a meeting with the nurse manager of the L&D unit, the M/B unit, the hospital social worker and herself to make sure everyone was on the same page with our wishes for L's birth. Small things like making sure Mom and Dad were able to do skin-to-skin with their new baby and that they would have a room just for them following delivery. Big things like making sure the correct last name was on the birth certificate and who to address as mom and dad. Danne made sure every conversation that needed to be had took place before delivery day and that everything went smoothly. She had a plan in place and documents ready at the front desk of the delivery unit, so all we needed to do was say our name and let them know the plan was there and ready.
On the day of delivery, Danne came to check in on us after her workday in the office, and when the unit needed extra staff, she volunteered to stay late and work extra hours on the unit to be our delivery nurse. From the first day of care until the very last, Danne was there. She was eventually sent home shortly before delivery because the staffing strain was able to be resolved, but having her those few extra hours felt like the perfect conclusion. Knowing she was cheering us on and truly invested in our journey meant the world to us. Danne is the true definition of a DAISY Nurse.
With that fourth transfer and positive results, most would be thrilled and full of excitement. We didn't feel like we could breathe. Thoughts of doubt and "what ifs" filled the space where joy should have been. Because of our struggles, my advanced maternal age, and the fact that the pregnancy was an IVF pregnancy, we would be cared for by our doctor and his staff at Ball Hospital. One person on this team we cannot overlook as going above and beyond for us and helping to slowly replace the thoughts of fear and doubt. Jordanne Newman, who we only knew as Danne, was our rockstar. She was there for every heartbeat check, ultrasound, vaccination, concerned conversation, and victory for us.
Danne would come greet us each time with a big smile and make us feel like we were her favorite patients and true VIPs. Each concern we would throw at her she would put time into finding us an answer and a solution. Danne allowed my sister to truly feel like Mom even though she wasn't able to have her baby growing inside of her.
Knowing our situation was tricky and there were additional steps that needed to be taken to meet Indiana legal requirements for surrogacy, she followed up with us and other departments to make certain nothing was forgotten. She arranged a meeting with the nurse manager of the L&D unit, the M/B unit, the hospital social worker and herself to make sure everyone was on the same page with our wishes for L's birth. Small things like making sure Mom and Dad were able to do skin-to-skin with their new baby and that they would have a room just for them following delivery. Big things like making sure the correct last name was on the birth certificate and who to address as mom and dad. Danne made sure every conversation that needed to be had took place before delivery day and that everything went smoothly. She had a plan in place and documents ready at the front desk of the delivery unit, so all we needed to do was say our name and let them know the plan was there and ready.
On the day of delivery, Danne came to check in on us after her workday in the office, and when the unit needed extra staff, she volunteered to stay late and work extra hours on the unit to be our delivery nurse. From the first day of care until the very last, Danne was there. She was eventually sent home shortly before delivery because the staffing strain was able to be resolved, but having her those few extra hours felt like the perfect conclusion. Knowing she was cheering us on and truly invested in our journey meant the world to us. Danne is the true definition of a DAISY Nurse.