Babies admitted to the NICU are oftentimes born way too early. Other times there was a complication in the delivery room. Sometimes they are drug addicted. Sometimes they have life-altering diagnoses that require emergent surgeries and painful bedside procedures. Many of our babies need daily tests, labs, and diagnostics. Sometimes they have parents who don’t always care, or come, or call, or don’t want to be their parents. Sometimes they have “death defying spells” and try everything in their power to quit breathing on us. Sometimes they have significantly complex, critically-ill conditions. Some babies get to go home, while others do not. But at the end of the day, they defy all the odds and are my biggest heroes.
Preemies are some of the strongest fighters that I have ever met, and I absolutely love working as a neonatal nurse where I face the most challenging diagnoses and witness tiny-but-mighty miracles everyday. I am so grateful for the lifesaving research, treatment, and community support made possible to give every baby a fighting chance of not only surviving but also thriving. Most people say that they could never work with sick babies, but for me I cannot imagine doing anything else. My preemies have this will to survive that is so strong. They are fighters. They never give up. They are my biggest heroes.