Why I Love the NICU

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Specializes in NICU, ER.

I have been wondering why I love the NICU as much as I do, LOL. But I had a startling realization the other day as I was taking care of a 23 3/7 of a weeker who weighed 580 grams and her next door neighbor a former 24 weeker who is now 3 mos. old and has severe ROP and a grade 4 IVH with PVL is that these kids are amazing. That sounds so retarded but these babies live everyday against a lot of odds many unsurmountable, and yet they live. Their sun rises and goes down and the moon comes out and goes down without any complaints, and they don't even complain about the food. Neosure smells disgusting and Breast milk with beneprotein is disgusting. They make me a better person, and I am happy to be their ambassador. Sorry I am just having a moment.:wink2:

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Specializes in Adult ICU, Neonatal ICU.

You go girl :)

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Specializes in ICN.

I've worked in the ICN for a long, long time now, and coincidentally have a daughter with mild developmental delays who is in a special needs class.

Three times a week, I care for babies who will, in all probability, grow up to have special needs--but they are awesome, strong little things, fighting hard to have life.

Whenever I go to my daughter's class and pick her up afterwards, or attend one of her special needs baseball/soccer/basketball games, I see some of those same sorts of kids now living their lives. Yeah, maybe they're not up to grade level, or they walk with a limp or obsess about the oddest little trivia--but they are real kids, having fun, going places, doing what kids do. They make me smile, and I know that in some small way, I may have helped a baby just like them grow up.

That's why I love the ICN.

Dawn

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