Katie cared for a patient whose mother was in a wheelchair. Though the baby was born at another facility, the family requested a transfer to our NICU to be closer to home.
During her first shift with the family, Katie learned that the mom could not change her baby due to the structure of the bassinet not being wheelchair accessible.
Determined to find a way around this, Katie approached the NICU director about the situation and advocated for an accommodation. Together, the two obtained the funds needed to purchase a more accessible bassinet.
During her next shift, Katie prepared the bassinet to surprise the mom with during her visit with her baby. The family was beyond grateful, and the mom was able to change her baby’s diaper for the first time.
Afterwards, the mom told Katie that the small task of changing her child’s diaper had finally made her feel like a “real” mom.
Being a NICU mom is gut-wrenching and comes with losses beyond just control over bonding with your baby. The separation between visits is heartbreaking, and the moments together are cherished. Katie’s advocacy, care, and dedication to this mother brought her a feeling many NICU moms struggle to find.
She is truly an angel.