[mom23RN]

I have tears as I'm reading this thread. I'm so glad that hospitals are recognizing the impact these little lives have on the families and the staff. What a wonderful thing.

Our first child, a son, survived his stay in the PTCU at the University of Michigan. He was there for 9 weeks after his surgery for pulmonary atresia. He came home and died a week later from overwhelming sepsis due to NEC (yes, he was full term - they surmise it was most likely from the open heart). He died at our local ER and we're in a fairly small town so they don't really have anything (they did give us a lock of hair and took some polaroids).

The most special thing to me was when I was invited to the memorial service the U has every year. One of the social workers knew what had happened and took it upon herself to invite us. His PC even came down to find us because we hadnt' seen him since we had left the hospital. It was nice to sit and talk with him and "hash over" what may have happened.

Anyway sorry for the hijack of the thread. As a parent I am so touched that some of your hospitals are taking the time to embrace the pareints who have lost everything. It really makes a difference.

Thanks