My husband and I had our firstborn at just 25 weeks. C spent his first 101 days of life in the NICU to ensure he met all the necessary milestones before safely being sent home. One nurse who stood out to us was Alyssa. A NICU stay was unexpected, often times scary, and far from the normal experience you would anticipate as new parents. Alyssa made the most of C’s stay while also providing excellent care to him. There were numerous unknowns, especially during those first few weeks.

Alyssa always took those extra few minutes to answer any questions we had and explained things in a way that we could understand. C had many firsts in the hospital. Two that hold a special place in our hearts both include Alyssa. One first I will never forget is the first time I could hold C for over 10 minutes. Those first few times, his oxygen levels would drop after a few minutes, and I would have to put him back in his Isolette. This seemed like such a silly thing to be excited about, but Alyssa cheered us on and celebrated each minute that passed. I can still hear her saying, “Go, C, you’re doing great!” My husband's favorite first was bath time. It seemed so scary to bathe a 2-pound baby in a tiny Isolette with wires coming out of him from all ends. Alyssa was patient and reassuring when C needed a break to improve his breathing. She walked us through the steps and took my phone to capture a family photo of us.

Even on days when Alyssa wasn’t C's primary nurse, she would make it a point to visit and check on how he was doing. Special moments like these really made our NICU stay memorable. It is clear that Alyssa loves what she does and is doing what she is meant to do. Alyssa has become like family to us, and we are forever grateful for the kindness, empathy, and great nursing care she provided to C.