Love, Megan

"Dear NICU Mama, Life after NICU may feel overwhelming, but know that you were made for this moment.

Each day, hour, and second spent in the confines of the NICU was preparing you for these much-anticipated moments—the ones spent at home. You were always destined to be here, to be snuggling your baby beneath a blanket on the couch and sleeping beside a quiet bassinet. And while you may feel uncertain, as though you are starting a brand new book, know this is simply the turning of a page—the beginning of a beautiful new chapter.

Bringing home a medically complex baby or any NICU miracle feels like something that should require a degree—formal training in the healthcare profession. But mama, you’ll be surprised how much you already know, how much you have already learned. You were in training, and you didn’t even know it. Every time you watched a nurse change your baby’s oxygen tubing, or adjust a face sticky, you were learning. Every time you witnessed a stimulation, you were practicing—gaining an understanding of an effective reaction. These moments, however insignificant they felt, were preparing you for this special brand of motherhood.

You were (and maybe you still are) in training, mama. You were watching, practicing, preparing. You were molding into the mama your miracle needs, the one who can eloquently bridge the gap between the NICU and home.

You may not have a healthcare degree or medical experience, but you have something with far deeper value—a mother’s intuition. And while you may not realize it, that intuition is something fierce. You have unmatched insight and an inseparable bond. You know your baby better than anyone ever could, and that power cannot be undermined. The training you received from your time in the NICU combined with your unparalleled instinct makes you an unstoppable force. You may feel overwhelmed and out of your league, but you could not be more ready. Because you, sweet friend, were destined for this moment.

You were made to be the mama of a miracle.”

Love,
Megan

More of Megan + Eli’s NICU Journey:

“Eli Robert entered the world six weeks early on the evening of December 19, 2020, making a surprise appearance during a family Christmas celebration. 

We were three hours away from home with my husband's family when my water unexpectedly broke overnight. Immediately, we rushed to the hospital where I began laboring in an unknown location that felt very foreign to me. I was away from home, with an unfamiliar medical team (they were having trouble contacting my hospital for a records’ release, so I truly felt like a Jane Doe), and experiencing something I never truly considered–preterm delivery. Throughout the day, several neonatologists came to speak with me and prepare me for a NICU stay. While I knew it was inevitable, I really felt our stay would be short and sweet. 

I was wrong.

We spent 49 days in the NICU, an entire week past the golden "due date" predictor. Through our journey, we discovered Eli had a rare genetic condition impacting his muscle tone and an unexpected brain malformation. Both of which made it more difficult for him to progress and delayed our discharge date. We endured scan after scan, lab after lab. During his stay, Eli spent one week on a ventilator, three days on CPAP, and 39 days on low-flow oxygen. He had three echocardiograms, one MRI, one MRA, and countless x-rays. It felt like if a medical procedure existed, Eli had to try it.  After six weeks, Eli developed a hernia that needed surgical repair and required a hospital transfer. We sent our warrior on an airplane across the state and landed in a completely new location for our seventh (and final) week in the NICU. It was truly the slowest and fastest seven weeks of my life, with some of the most beautiful and traumatic moments simultaneously coming together for one unforgettable experience. 

Now, we are more than one year post-NICU and happily managing our medical marvel at home. He still has extensive medical appointments and needs, but I feel the NICU truly prepared us for success, and we are grateful for the growth he experienced within those sterile walls that somehow became our home. Understanding and appreciating how the NICU can impact families, I am passionate about connecting with fellow parents and being a source of hope. The NICU can feel dark and daunting, but I want to help each family find the beauty in each tiny moment, in each small victory.”