April 2019
Abigail
Brodsky
,
RN
NICU
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Philadelphia
,
PA
United States

 

 

 

Where to begin? To say in the beginning, and still now, having to have a baby in the NICU for a day, week, weeks, months is a parent's nightmare! On the reverse, I have been "that" parent who has been the nightmare for nurses during our 2-month stay. I was at the bedside of my son 15+ hours each day asking numerous questions to the nurse and I'm sure annoying them as this is my only baby and I waited a long time for him! I wanted to be his nurse and feed, bath, rock him not a nurse so to give up that control was so hard. Nurse Abby or "Aunty Abby" helped ease the sadness deep in my soul. Her personality was both caring, loving, and fun. Who knew I could actually laugh in the NICU? But it was all because of Aunty Abby. The rare times I would go home to sleep was when I knew Abby was L's nurse. Of course, I had the angel eye when I went home and to see her holding him and rocking him in such a loving way eased my sadness when I was not with him. Not only was I sad for these 2 months but full of complete fear every minute. Abby explained in detail what each procedure, needle, and such meant. When we switched halls, I was devastated because it meant we would no longer have "Aunty Abby". But there she was after her shift to visit my baby and me and my family to make sure not only L was improving but to check in on me and my health and sanity. I hope that Aunty Abby after we leave this hospital will be a part of L's life and my family as she truly was the medicine, we all needed with her spirit to help my baby and family.