Suzette Baca
October 2018
Suzette
Baca
,
RN
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Presbyterian Hospital - Albuquerque
Albuquerque
,
NM
United States

 

 

 

A year ago, today, we met the most fabulous people. We were greeted with open arms, in a world that could be so dim. You see, A was born 12 weeks too soon. We were in admitting when we met our heaven on earth Angel. She was calm, and collected. She held our hands as they told us the news, "she might not make it through the night, we don't expect her to live". She told us, it would be alright. She has seen miracles before her very eyes. Our nurse told us, she would be ours. She chose us. We now understand why. Day in and day out our nurse told us to get some rest, we can take care of it. Go do something for yourself. I can assure you everything will be alright. She taught us most of the ropes around the NICU. She didn't tell us, we would have extremely dry hands after our 3-minute scrub down; instead she provided us lotion, "you guys might need this". What on earth would we need lotion for in the NICU. We began to realize she knew the plans for our mighty NICU survivor. We began our journey when I was admitted for preeclampsia. I was monitored, we had intermittent and absent flow. We stayed for a week, until the day the world changed. I had progressively sicker, and had reverse flow, from the baby to me. The only option was to have an emergency C-section. We almost had a shift change baby. At 1748 a 2lb 0.8 oz micro-preemie was born. The baby was sick, as I heard a practitioner call out, "it's a girl", a sweet whimper was heard as she was whisked away. What seemed like hours, it was until I could see her. What I remember was, them telling me to start pumping, you need to feed your baby. I didn't get her placed on my chest, I had a world of grief. As I was wheeled to see her, what on earth did I do to deserve this blessing. You see, NICU staff work miracles. In a baby who wasn't expected to live, they did it. God's grace has definitely surrounded us. The unit is filled with angels on earth. There are a few, but one to name. Suzette was there when it happened. Our beautiful night shift nurse. I fell when all seemed lost, she picked me up. She told me everything would be okay. The best thing is, her and my miracle share a birthday. She was there as mighty A took her first breath. She held my hand and the fragile news. She held us together, as we were told, she might not make it. But she affirmed, only fighters are born on the same day. Suzette is wonderful. She is our heaven on earth angel.