Nurse Kate was my newborn daughter's nurse frequently during her 6 week NICU stay. In mid-August of this year, I traveled from my home in Boston to Virginia to meet my adopted daughter there. C was born prematurely at 29 weeks and was 17 days old when I met her for the first time in the NICU. Kate was one of her primary nurses from the beginning and it was apparent to me early on that Nurse Kate was special.
The day I arrived to the NICU to meet C was the biggest day of my life. It was the most surreal, wonderful, anticipated, and terrifying experience I have ever had. Nurse Kate greeted me with a warm smile as I nervously walked onto the unit, and was there by my side the entire time to guide me, educate me, and include me in all things related to C's care. Nurse Kate was so gentle, but also professional and knowledgeable as she introduced me to C's monitor, what occurs during her care times, and taught me how I could be involved in her care from that moment forward. It was apparent that she really knew C, and shared with me her preferences, goals, and things unique to C that meant so much to me to learn after missing her first few weeks.
Calm, warm, and always professional, I felt a trust in Nurse Kate from the beginning. She was sensitive to the nuances inherent in being an adoptive parent and checked in with me regularly offering for me to bond skin to skin, regardless of how busy she was or how long it might take to disconnect her leads and set us up for that wonderful, necessary experience. She remained a steadfast caregiver throughout C's NICU stay and visited C after she was transferred to the River.
I consider Nurse Kate one of C's influential primary caregivers during those first few weeks before I could be there, and throughout our time in Virginia. I will forever be grateful for her and can't wait to tell C about her for years to come.