Recently, the MICU admitted one of its most heartbreaking cases I can remember since that terrible wave of COVID in late 2021. A young, expectant mother collapsed in front of her husband at just 27 weeks gestation. She progressed to cardiac arrest with no clear cause. The outside hospital reported to our team that her fetus had unfortunately passed away in utero. Upon arrival at the MICU, our team was shocked to discover that the fetus was, in fact, still alive. The patient was rushed to the OR where her baby was delivered pulseless. After ROSC was achieved on the baby, the mother came to the MICU for further management as her baby was separated from her to receive critical care in Children’s NICU. Regretfully, the young mother progressed to brain death not long after. 
    
After informing the patient’s husband and family of the mother’s death, the MICU staff nurses, and critical care technicians, led by the bedside RN, Linda Ste Marie, participated in “The pause” with the family. “The Pause” is read, “Everyone let’s pause as a team. Before we take care of this patient, Jane Doe is a person who had a family and friends. She was loved and gave love and she was important to others. Let’s take a moment to recognize that and honor Jane Doe now with a moment of silence”. As the silence stretched, the patient’s husband began begging her to return to him. He cried, “I’m so sorry I couldn’t save you. Please come back and raise our son with me. We were meant to do this together.” As raw and emotional as the scene was, the MICU staff could not let their emotions overtake them. They had to stay strong. They had to stay compassionate. Rhythm strips and handprints were taken as keepsakes for the family. A beautiful, handmade comfort blanket and shawl were wrapped around her body. And the family gave pieces of themselves to stay with the patient as well. They brought one of the baby’s blankets over, a family bible, and had spiritual prayers said over her.
    
But the MICU staff’s job wasn’t done. In collaboration with our MICU physicians and the staff at CHW, Linda, RN, RT, physician fellow and chaplain brought the patient over to CHW NICU where she was able to visit her baby boy with her husband by her side. The planning of the visit took almost two full days. The CHW team secured a private room that had to have enough oxygen, suction, and electric outlets for two critically ill patients. Upon arrival to CHW, it took further coordination to get mother and baby skin to skin. There were 2 vents, 2 sets of monitoring cables, 2 sets of IV medications, not to mention 2 nurses worried about their patients’ stability. They were able to rest the baby boy on the mother’s chest. The family prayed together, took many pictures and videos, and created memories that would have to last a lifetime. They were together and whole for the first and only time.