Emily came into our son's life when he was a mere 26 hours old. It was a rocky introduction to the world due to the fact that he began his steady decline that night, eventually leaving us in PCTU for the next 27 days. Despite the chaotic scene that Emily walked into that night, she remained calm, caring and compassionate, while explaining to the two brand-new parents what exactly was going on with their tiny new son. It was from that point on that we developed a bonded trust in the decisions that were being made for us, and to maintain some sense of normalcy in the process, even though nothing about this situation was normal. It was the little things that Emily went out of her way to do that helped us see the positives in his situation, such as creating heart shaped foam molds of his hands and feet when she couldn't find an ink pad for his prints. She also made him a name banner and found him cozy blankets to be swaddled in. Emily took the time to include me in the care of my newborn son as much as possible. She encouraged me to participate in bath time, diaper changes, and to even hold him when it seemed nearly impossible with all of the lines and wires attached to his little body.
We will always remember Emily for her kindness and compassion. I truly believe she is one of the main reasons why we remained sane through this entire process. My husband and I looked forward to the nights and days that we knew Emily would be working and taking care of our son. We could never repay her for all of the help she provided through our stay in the PCTU, and for the care she provided to our son. He finally made it home after 32 days in the hospital! Thank you, Emily Schlund, we will always remember you!