love eternal

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Trisomy 18...

I've been taking care of this lovely child for 6 months. I want to do something special for the parents. How can I preserve his dignity for a special valentines gift to the parents?

Hand prints? Foot prints? I'm thinking something like in Pre-K. A memory that may never have time to develope...unless given a gentle nudge.

Any ideas?

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

Make a little scrapbook for him with hand/foot prints, a letter from him to his mom and dad about how he loves them for being there for him. We this sort of thing frequently in our unit :) It is something most parents just love.

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Specializes in NICU.

The scrapbook idea sounds lovely. Why don't you include some pictures and some comments from the nurses who take care of him. "Little ____ has the most beautiful smile" or "I remember the day I took off his diaper to change him and he pooped so far he hit the walls of the isolette". Of course, you can say that much better than I did, but sometimes, esp. if they are our primaries and parents live out of town, we can spend more time with them than mom and dad. I know I'd treasure any memory I could gather.

You're sweet to care.

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