This nurse made such a difference in my son’s care. I had a healthy pregnancy, so when my son had complications of a pneumothorax after delivery that immediately required the NICU team to take him to the ICU for a higher level of care, I was devastated. I never got a chance to have that bonding moment to latch my baby when he was first born, so I was constantly sad and anxious.

During the first few days I visited my son in the NICU, the medical and nursing team unfortunately told me that I could not hold him yet because he had such high oxygen requirements and had a central line and feeding tube. So, I would sit and just watch my baby in the incubator.

On the third day, the charge nurse, Rosalie, sat with me and asked how I was feeling. I expressed how sad I was watching my baby fight to breathe with no improvement, and how hard it was to watch all the new moms being able to hold their babies. She immediately spoke to the medical team and recommended that I finally be allowed to hold my son. She felt that skin-to-skin contact would help with his breathing. When the medical team agreed, I hesitated at first because he was connected to so many tubes and I didn’t want to trouble anyone. But she made me feel like it was no trouble at all.

She immediately called for the RT and another nurse to help move the oxygen tubing and IV lines as they took my baby out of the incubator and placed him in my arms. She even went the extra mile, calling the lactation consultant to come right away and help with breastfeeding. When my baby wasn’t able to latch and started to cry, I broke down and said that maybe my baby didn’t remember me. She calmed me down and said, “A baby will never forget their mom.” She knew I already had a three-year-old, but she still educated me as if I were a first-time mom again.

Every time I visited, she immediately called for help so I could hold my baby, and the lactation consultant would come to the bedside again to help with breastfeeding. She never made me feel like moving him with all the tubing was any trouble. She knew I was very hopeful to get my baby home by my birthday.

On the day my baby was discharged, I had no idea he was going home, but she surprised me by telling me that he was finally ready. I’ll never forget that day, because as we were being wheeled out, all the staff lined up, clapped, and congratulated me.

My baby is now one year old, and I still get tearful thinking about that visit. This nurse helped me through such a tough time, and I would like to extend my deepest thanks for her compassion. I am a nurse here at UCLA too, and I feel so grateful that there are nurses like her in the NICU saving babies and supporting moms.