Nurse Imagines...

Imagine...a mother thanking you for acknowledging Mother's Day to her because no one in her family ever mentions the baby's name.

Imagine this same mother asking you "did you ever hear him cry?" Now imagine that baby's father showing up at the NICU at 2300 to see you because you are the only other person he knows (besides his wife) who saw his son alive.

Imagine...seeing a beautiful baby in Wal-mart and having his mother thank you for making this the best Christmas ever. Imagine trying not to cry.

Imagine...a mother loving her child so much she let her go with you even though she felt like killing you at the time. Imagine this same mother and child coming back two years later so they could see the helicopter you used to transport her in to the hospital.

Imagine...getting birthday invitations and pictures every year from an ex-26-weeker who looks great and is developmentally appropriate.

Imagine...being called to a referral hospital to transport a newborn and praying it is not the baby of one of the nurses you have come to love.

It is...imagine seeing her face as you walk into her room for consent.

Imagine crying with her as you get it.

Imagine...caring for a baby and his family until his death.

Imagine the privilege of holding him, and helping the family hold him, till he leaves this earth.

Imagine getting a call two years later telling you about the arrival of his healthy baby sister.

Imagine...trying to call a mother to come to the hospital while her son is being coded. Imagine her being on the other line trying to call you because she "just woke up and knew something was wrong."

Imagine...caring for two adorable twin girls and then having to care for their brother two years later.

Imagine all of them being healthy, active, and spoiled.

Jana