Where do I even begin? I will first start with I was pregnant with twin boys. My boys decided to come ten weeks early. On this day there was a random Wisconsin blizzard. My water broke at home, and we tried to drive, but the roads were horrendous. We ended up parking at my father-in-law’s house and was transported by ambulance to St. Mary’s in Madison. Fast forward, the boys were born premature, requiring them to spend some time in the NICU. I was a first-time parent, so not only was becoming a mother new to me, but the NICU was unfamiliar territory. The wires, the monitors, the setbacks, it was all so intimidating and emotionally overwhelming. The boys had many nurses and would switch throughout the week. Everyone was very pleasant and there was one nurse that still sticks out to me to this day. One nurse that we still talk about with friends and family when talking about our NICU journey and her name is Miranda London.

I remember meeting Miranda. She was bubbly, friendly, and very warming in such a scary situation for me and my family. My visits to the NICU to see my boys made me feel like a NICU patient’s mother and that’s all, but Miranda made me feel like a mother… a parent and it was refreshing to finally be able to have the title of “Mom” and not just another NICU parent. My babies loved Miranda… you may be wondering how I could tell, they are just babies, right? But my mama-heart felt warm and comforted on the days when I knew Miranda was on duty with my babies. Miranda would hold them during feedings, give them extra snuggles between feeding, and love them as not only patients, but as babies that needed extra love when mom and dad were away. I always looked forward to hearing when Miranda would be their nurse next. Anytime my fiancé and I would visit the NICU to see our boys, we would leave home saying, “We hope Miranda is there today.” My fiancé is quite stubborn and intimidated by hospitals. At a few points, he felt upset that he didn’t feel like their “Dad” when we were there, but he even stated, he was grateful Miranda made him feel like dad. I would call my family after my NICU visits and they would ask, “Was Miranda there today?”.

Yep – she was, and they knew because I always told them how warm and happy I felt knowing she was their nurse. It is so, so hard leaving your babies day after day in the NICU, but walking out of the hospital, knowing Miranda was with my babies, made it easier. When my babies were making strides forward, but doctors thought they were not at the “appropriate” age yet to begin their milestones, Miranda always advocated for them…knowing how desperately we wanted our babies’ home. She advocated that she spends a lot of time with them, she knows them, they were getting strong, and they were ready to make those steps forward. These are just some examples of how wonderful it was to work with Miranda. My NICU experience was better because of her. My heart mended because of her. Miranda is a name I will never forget… I will carry her name with me forever. When my boys grow older and can understand, I will make sure they know the name Miranda. I will make sure they know Miranda saved their mama. Miranda made me feel like a Mother for the first time. Miranda made Dada feel like “Dad” for the first time. I owe this woman my life!