One of our NICU babies from last spring came back to visit today. 26 weeker, 112 days with us. I was her primary on nights for most of that.
Her mom pulled the little knit hat out of her bag. The one I put on her the first night she was stable enough to be held. She kept it this whole time. The kid is chunky and grabbing everything and screamed when I held her which honestly felt like a compliment.
I had a really bad week before this. Didn't fix all of it. But I'm going to hang onto today for a while. Anyone else get a visit that came at exactly the right time?
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Post replyWrite it down somewhere. Name, date, the hat, all of it. I keep a note on my phone for days like this and I reread it when a shift goes sideways. It helps more than I expected.
Honestly I have mixed feelings about the visits. I love seeing the ones who thrive, but every time I end up thinking about the families who never get to walk back through those doors. Hold onto your good day, though. You earned it.
Had a former 24 weeker's family come by the unit around Christmas a few years back. I was three days into deciding whether to put in my notice. The dad shook my hand and couldn't get a word out, just stood there. I didn't quit. Some days I still think about that handshake when I'm charting at 0500.
Screaming when you hold her is absolutely a compliment. It means she's got lungs and opinions now. Glad today happened for you.