I wish I could explain just one instance that Rose changed my life, but it was an everyday occurrence. I can remember the first day we met, the same day my beautiful daughter came into this world. At one pound, nine ounces my daughter came out crying. The NICU was pretty foreign to me. I had no idea what to expect. A few hours after delivery, I was allowed into the NICU for a quick visit. I approached the giraffe isolette to meet my daughter. As I looked in at her, tears started to form in my eyes. A woman came over, calm as a cucumber, and congratulated me. She explained to me in my confused state that my daughter was a feisty little fighter. I didn't want to cry in front of my daughter and this woman wouldn't let me. She was too happy and peppy to let anything bad happen. I knew at that moment that everything would be fine. If this person could be so calm and collected during the most stressful moment of my life, then everything must not be as scary as I think it is. A few days later she worked again and had requested my daughter as her patient. She did this basically every time she worked. I do not think people realize how much it helps to have the stability of a consistent nurse. It's the little things she didn't need to do but did anyway. So many days she could have been charting or going to lunch on time or really anything else, but she sat rocking my daughter to comfort her and make her feel safe. The most unnatural thing a new mother can do is leave her child behind. Rose made it tolerable and made me comfortable, knowing that my daughter would be fine in her hands.
My daughter ended up doing great in the NICU even though had a lot of variables going against her (age, size, heart defect, etc.) and without the care, love, and decisions made by Rose, I wholeheartedly believe my daughter would not be where she is today. It really takes someone special to make you not want to leave the NICU. Do not get me wrong, we can do without the constant beeping, poking, prodding, and stress, but this kind of genuine love and care you don't find everywhere. "Discharge" was a word I longed to hear and I feared would never be a part of our vocabulary but as it approaches I am relieved and excited, yet sorrowful, having to leave Rose behind. She will always be a part of our hearts. Our lives have truly been touched and changed in the best way. We will be forever grateful to Rose Garcia.