Madison Ferrara
July 2024
Madison
Ferrara
,
RN
Special Care Unit
Beverly Hospital
Beverly
,
MA
United States
His breathing seemed off. In hindsight, it was probably my nervousness. But when Madison came down to the ER to get him, I knew we were in the best hands.
I was expecting my second baby in two years. A little boy whom I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep in until his full term. I had only been nine months postpartum when I got pregnant. My water partially broke without me knowing, so I was induced and spent the rest of the day waiting for labor to progress. I remember talking to the nurses and them telling me that if I could hold off until midnight, he wouldn’t be considered a preemie, and we wouldn’t have to take any extra precautions to go home.
When midnight came, I was thrilled. I couldn’t wait to get home and be a whole family. Our baby was born after two short pushes and came out crying. He looked great, had great APGAR scores, and was happy. After about an hour and a half, I was being transported to the maternity floor when I noticed his color was slightly bluish. The nurses and doctors all worked swiftly to get him the care he needed. But this meant he was going to be admitted to the Special Care Nursery. As a Mom who had a “normal” birth experience a little over a year ago, I was numb. We were brought to our maternity room and waited to be able to see our baby. I felt completely helpless.
When I tell the birth story of our baby, I always say how much of a blessing it was to meet D, even though it was under less-than-ideal circumstances. The same can be said for Madison. She was our night shift version of D. When I would wake up in a panic, she would reassure me that he was being snuggled and loved just as I would if I could be there with him. We ended up back in the SCN a day after discharge. His breathing seemed off. In hindsight, it was probably my nervousness. But when Madison came down to the ER to get him, I knew we were in the best hands. These two women have changed my life in a way I never knew I needed. I will never be able to thank them enough for their work and compassion. I have spent countless days trying to think of gifts or ways to thank them. But how do you thank someone who kept your baby safe when you couldn’t? Who helped my baby heal and got him to where he is now. D and Madison deserve every award possible.
When midnight came, I was thrilled. I couldn’t wait to get home and be a whole family. Our baby was born after two short pushes and came out crying. He looked great, had great APGAR scores, and was happy. After about an hour and a half, I was being transported to the maternity floor when I noticed his color was slightly bluish. The nurses and doctors all worked swiftly to get him the care he needed. But this meant he was going to be admitted to the Special Care Nursery. As a Mom who had a “normal” birth experience a little over a year ago, I was numb. We were brought to our maternity room and waited to be able to see our baby. I felt completely helpless.
When I tell the birth story of our baby, I always say how much of a blessing it was to meet D, even though it was under less-than-ideal circumstances. The same can be said for Madison. She was our night shift version of D. When I would wake up in a panic, she would reassure me that he was being snuggled and loved just as I would if I could be there with him. We ended up back in the SCN a day after discharge. His breathing seemed off. In hindsight, it was probably my nervousness. But when Madison came down to the ER to get him, I knew we were in the best hands. These two women have changed my life in a way I never knew I needed. I will never be able to thank them enough for their work and compassion. I have spent countless days trying to think of gifts or ways to thank them. But how do you thank someone who kept your baby safe when you couldn’t? Who helped my baby heal and got him to where he is now. D and Madison deserve every award possible.