Meagan Razor is the most extraordinary nurse I have had the pleasure of knowing.
The NICU is not a place you want to be, but when your child ends up there, you hope and pray for a nurse like Meagan. I believe my son's time in the NICU was shorter, and our feelings about our stay were more positive, because of Meagan's compassion and care. While every nurse in the NICU is excellent at their craft and took outstanding care of our son, Meagan went above-and-beyond to make sure that not only were our son's medical needs met, but that my husband and I were also taken care of, and that our time was as "enjoyable" as it could be.
For example, after we had been in the NICU for a few days, Meagan took it upon herself, during her breaks, to make sure we had a cute, handcrafted sign made for our door. While this seems like a menial task, it made the cold walls of the hospital warmer and brought a much-needed smile to our faces when we saw the sign upon entering our son's hospital room. She took the time to personalize the sign based on what we had mentioned our family enjoys, the colors/theme of his nursery, etc. It was such a gift that the sign now proudly hangs in our son's room - and instead of being a reminder of the scary time spent in the NICU, it serves as a positive reminder of the generosity, compassion, and empathy Meagan showed our family during the first days of our son's life.
Another example is the first bath our son had. Most parents get to enjoy all the "firsts" in the comfort of their home. It can be difficult when those firsts take place amongst the confines of a hospital, with cords/wires everywhere, and skilled nurses overlooking. It can be intimidating for first-time parents, to say the least! When it came time for our son's first bath, instead of doing it herself or treating it just like any other task to be completed during her shift, Meagan presented it to us as a fun opportunity. With a watchful (but not overbearing) eye, she encouraged us to take the reins, take our time, and savor our first activity together as a family of three, and while we were doing so, unbeknownst to us, she took some pictures and videos that will be cherished forever!
On a daily basis, Meagan also made sure we understood what was taking place around us- and not just via medical jargon. At the beginning of each shift, she'd give us updates from the day prior, set forth goals for the day ahead, and answer any questions we had. She was also steadfast at updating the whiteboard in our room, which again, seems like a menial task, but when you are sleep deprived, overwhelmed, and can hardly think straight, seeing those updates/goals/notes right in front of you, whenever you need, goes a long way!
I will forever be grateful first-and-foremost for the superior medical attention Meagan gave our son to keep him safe and healthy, but also for the interpersonal connection, she made with my husband and me. While many people may want to forget their time spent in the NICU (and of course, there are aspects I, too, hope fade far from memory), I will never forget Meagan's empathy and dedication to making sure our stay in the NICU was not just scary, overwhelming and impersonal, but that we would also have happy times to look back on as well. Every time we look at the sign Meagan made for our son's room, we will remember the happy times she helped spearhead and our cherished first experiences as a family of three during our stay in the NICU.