NICU Team
April 2021
NICU
Team at SwedishAmerican Hospital
SwedishAmerican Hospital
Michelle Allen, BSN, RN
Margaret Hare, BSN, RN
Teri Weaver, BSN, RN
Alisha Folk, RRT
Alex Paganis, DNP

 

 

 

To honor the baby and comfort the family, the NICU team organized a blessing ceremony.
Last summer, a critically ill baby was born at 32 weeks gestation. The child was identified as having a condition that was not compatible with life. As it became clear that the baby would not survive, the grieving mother communicated to our staff that she couldn't bear to be with the baby when he passed. To honor the baby and comfort the family, the NICU team organized a blessing ceremony. They also took turns holding the infant for the next four hours until he peacefully passed away because they wanted him to feel loved and pass while being with people who genuinely cared about him. It truly was a team effort to care for the baby's medical needs and communicate with the mother who required use of the video interpreter.