A baby in our unit was being visited by his mother. While Mom had opted to stay an extra night in the hospital due to his NICU admission, she was hours away from being discharged and having to leave the hospital without her new baby. This is a very common occurrence in the NICU, as Mother's rarely anticipate having to leave their babies behind.

I could overhear the mom expressing her concern about going home, and I could absolutely sense the emotions she must have been feeling. While I have never had a child in the NICU, I generally find it easy to empathize with these parents simply because I am a mom myself.

I made my way towards the room to make sure Mom was okay, and my friend and colleague Kellye, who was caring for the baby, was seated right next to Mom. She listened as the mom voiced her concerns. It was serendipitous not only that we were having a relatively slow night, but that the nurse caring for this baby had her own NICU experience to share.

Not long ago, her own daughter had to stay in the NICU, and she had to experience the pain of leaving the hospital without her baby. While the circumstances surrounding each baby's hospitalization were unique, there was a palpable calm in that room, as Kellye not only shared her own story but also listened and validated this mom's feelings for nearly an hour.

It absolutely melted my heart to see my coworker relate to a patient on this level and take the time to put her at ease. As NICU nurses, it can be difficult to relate to some of our patients, yet we all have our ways of providing comfort when it's needed, in the best way that we know how.

Kellye's interaction with this mom felt so unrushed and personal. It was a beautiful demonstration of caring and compassion in action.