I am a 3-time NICU mother here at the St. Paul, MN campus. In 2017, my daughter was born at 27 weeks and had a three month stay. In 2020, my second daughter was full term but had a two week stay, and in December 2024 my son was born at 25 weeks and is in the middle of a multiple month stay. I can safely say that all the staff here in the NICU have been wonderful, knowledgeable, and personable. However, one of my son A's nurses has played a huge role in the overall success of A and our happiness here. Sierra is very smart, and it’s clear she is meant to be a nurse. She is extremely knowledgeable while also nurturing. She has never treated us like she “knew better” than us, which has helped us feel comfortable to be ourselves and ask questions. I remember one of my first encounters with Sierra. She was telling me that if I opened his isolette, there was a button I could press to release warm air so the baby didn’t get too cold. To her, she was probably just telling me a mindless fact but I was so surprised and happy she trusted me enough to tell me. It made me feel like I didn’t have to “ask” to touch my own son. When Sierra is working, we are at ease. We know she can handle it, and we know she knows our son just as well as we do, if not better.

She has been there through many ups and downs with us, like when there was air in his abdomen and he needed a drain placement. Or when he needed the second drain placement, Sierra was right there, containing A while the surgical team put the drain in. She has seen him tolerate feedings, and reject feedings. She’s witnessed the journey of him being extubated to CPAP. She really has been with us through this entire experience and has made a significant difference in our time here. I remember giving A a bed bath with Sierra. She included me and we bathed him together. When I had pneumonia and was gone for 10 days, I was never worried because I knew Sierra knows A well and will advocate for what he needs and what is best for him.

I could sit here and go on and on about how great she is. When we look back on this extremely stressful time in our lives, we will ALWAYS remember Sierra and the role she played. It makes a world of difference having a nurse we trust and enjoy personally and professionally. Any medical facility is lucky to have her, and we are beyond grateful that the universe placed her here at the same time as us. Thank you, Sierra! We love you!