May 2014
Lindsay
Jakopovic
,
RN
Labor & Delivery
The Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha
,
NE
United States
Anencephaly: one word that shattered my heart forever.
As first time parents, my husband and I found out on our 20-week ultrasound that our first baby would not be living past birth. We clearly were devastated and heart broken. This was my first pregnancy, and I was 23 years old. We had trouble at another hospital system to even get the correct information on the options and choices we could make as parents. We had decided not to carry our baby girl to full term for various reasons.
The days leading up to the delivery were excruciating! I was not even capable of functioning as I had done just three days before when my life seemed normal.
We checked into UNMC the night of February 7th. I was terrified of the pain I may endure. Not ever having delivered a baby before, I had no clue what to expect. It was hard walking into the doors of a maternity unit knowing I wouldn't be leaving the hospital with a baby. I was so afraid of what our baby girl may look like due to her condition.
We were checked into the room I would be in for the rest of the stay. Many nurses tried multiple times to put the IV in my hand. I suspect I was dehydrated. Finally, on the fourth poke the IV was in. At that moment I was so very scared and nervous.
All of my day shift nurses were leaving for the night and I was introduced to Lindsay. Little did I know at that moment God had just placed an angel on earth in my room. Lindsay said she would be taking care of me for the duration of the night and into the early morning hours. My parents and my in-laws were both there and we sent them home for the night.
The darkest hours of my life turned to light. I can't even explain how much Lindsay did for us in the hardest moments of our lives. The compassion and comfort she shared with me for the next twelve hours was nothing short of amazing. One of the first things she said to me was how sorry she was for us, and she cried. The moment I saw her eyes fill with tears I knew her heart was broken just like mine. (I had thought going to the hospital that the nurses would probably be callused because of seeing so many different issues that come up every day, but Lindsay wasn't like that at all.) She let me know what to expect in the physical nature of what our daughter may look like and how big she may be. I had asked her if she had ever seen a baby with anencephaly before, and she told me that she took care of a family a couple of weeks before with the same condition. She gave us great comfort by answering our endless questions about anencephalic babies.
The medication I was given to induce my labor gave me many side effects. The dignity Lindsay showed me, and the way she cared for me, was exactly what I needed at that moment. Nothing is worse than being in a hospital knowing the moment you become a parent, you also become a parent who has lost a child. Lindsay spent a lot of time in our room just talking with us. We talked about many feelings that I had, and she reassured me that all those feelings were normal. The peace she brought to us that night was nothing short of a miracle. The fear that once dwelled in me was gone.
My husband and I are both very strong Christians and know that the Lord is with us at all times. I truly believe the Lord knew I needed Lindsay that night in my room. I remember in the early morning hours asking her if she could stay after her shift. I knew she couldn't, but I desperately didn't want her to leave. Not all people know how to handle such tough and hard situations. Lindsay reassured me that she would make sure the person who cared for me next would be just as great.
Lindsay should be given the DAISY award because she was my daisy. She brought light and hope into a dark situation. She gave me a sense of peace and hope that I could and would get through the toughest experience of my life. I am forever thankful for what she did that night; she took great care of our family. I believe the compassion she shared with us and with our unborn daughter is something that not all people have. Lindsay has a true gift that others can learn from and she is the perfect example of what it means to be a nurse.
This experience in losing our daughter has taught me so much about people. When I delivered Mia at 1:06 PM on February 8th I was in awe of our beautiful little girl. She was perfect and beautiful, just like Lindsay had told me she would be. I would go through the whole experience again just to see our little girl.
I want Lindsay to know what she did for us; we can never thank her enough. I truly know that Lindsay saved me that night from walking down a dark road of being scared and afraid. For that I am forever thankful that our angel on earth took care of our angel who is now in Heaven.
After our experience at UNMC I would never recommend any other hospital in the state to have a baby at. Yes, our experience was a lot different than most, but I do know, no matter what your situation is, they will give you the best care and greatest compassion. I hope I've helped you understand what Lindsay did for me that night. She cared for me as a person; she could have just taken care of all the physical needs as a nurse and left it at that, but she cried when I cried. She truly cared for my soul.
As first time parents, my husband and I found out on our 20-week ultrasound that our first baby would not be living past birth. We clearly were devastated and heart broken. This was my first pregnancy, and I was 23 years old. We had trouble at another hospital system to even get the correct information on the options and choices we could make as parents. We had decided not to carry our baby girl to full term for various reasons.
The days leading up to the delivery were excruciating! I was not even capable of functioning as I had done just three days before when my life seemed normal.
We checked into UNMC the night of February 7th. I was terrified of the pain I may endure. Not ever having delivered a baby before, I had no clue what to expect. It was hard walking into the doors of a maternity unit knowing I wouldn't be leaving the hospital with a baby. I was so afraid of what our baby girl may look like due to her condition.
We were checked into the room I would be in for the rest of the stay. Many nurses tried multiple times to put the IV in my hand. I suspect I was dehydrated. Finally, on the fourth poke the IV was in. At that moment I was so very scared and nervous.
All of my day shift nurses were leaving for the night and I was introduced to Lindsay. Little did I know at that moment God had just placed an angel on earth in my room. Lindsay said she would be taking care of me for the duration of the night and into the early morning hours. My parents and my in-laws were both there and we sent them home for the night.
The darkest hours of my life turned to light. I can't even explain how much Lindsay did for us in the hardest moments of our lives. The compassion and comfort she shared with me for the next twelve hours was nothing short of amazing. One of the first things she said to me was how sorry she was for us, and she cried. The moment I saw her eyes fill with tears I knew her heart was broken just like mine. (I had thought going to the hospital that the nurses would probably be callused because of seeing so many different issues that come up every day, but Lindsay wasn't like that at all.) She let me know what to expect in the physical nature of what our daughter may look like and how big she may be. I had asked her if she had ever seen a baby with anencephaly before, and she told me that she took care of a family a couple of weeks before with the same condition. She gave us great comfort by answering our endless questions about anencephalic babies.
The medication I was given to induce my labor gave me many side effects. The dignity Lindsay showed me, and the way she cared for me, was exactly what I needed at that moment. Nothing is worse than being in a hospital knowing the moment you become a parent, you also become a parent who has lost a child. Lindsay spent a lot of time in our room just talking with us. We talked about many feelings that I had, and she reassured me that all those feelings were normal. The peace she brought to us that night was nothing short of a miracle. The fear that once dwelled in me was gone.
My husband and I are both very strong Christians and know that the Lord is with us at all times. I truly believe the Lord knew I needed Lindsay that night in my room. I remember in the early morning hours asking her if she could stay after her shift. I knew she couldn't, but I desperately didn't want her to leave. Not all people know how to handle such tough and hard situations. Lindsay reassured me that she would make sure the person who cared for me next would be just as great.
Lindsay should be given the DAISY award because she was my daisy. She brought light and hope into a dark situation. She gave me a sense of peace and hope that I could and would get through the toughest experience of my life. I am forever thankful for what she did that night; she took great care of our family. I believe the compassion she shared with us and with our unborn daughter is something that not all people have. Lindsay has a true gift that others can learn from and she is the perfect example of what it means to be a nurse.
This experience in losing our daughter has taught me so much about people. When I delivered Mia at 1:06 PM on February 8th I was in awe of our beautiful little girl. She was perfect and beautiful, just like Lindsay had told me she would be. I would go through the whole experience again just to see our little girl.
I want Lindsay to know what she did for us; we can never thank her enough. I truly know that Lindsay saved me that night from walking down a dark road of being scared and afraid. For that I am forever thankful that our angel on earth took care of our angel who is now in Heaven.
After our experience at UNMC I would never recommend any other hospital in the state to have a baby at. Yes, our experience was a lot different than most, but I do know, no matter what your situation is, they will give you the best care and greatest compassion. I hope I've helped you understand what Lindsay did for me that night. She cared for me as a person; she could have just taken care of all the physical needs as a nurse and left it at that, but she cried when I cried. She truly cared for my soul.