Love, Kelsey
“Dear NICU Mama, You may not be the same woman you were before your NICU journey, but you are evolved.
You may have started this journey knowing it would be a long road; You may have been completely surprised at your precious baby’s early arrival; Or you may have never expected your full-term baby would require a NICU stay. No matter which path you follow or the challenges and triumphs you’ve faced, you have continuously evolved in ways that are unexpected, indescribable, and often unimaginable.
As you waited in a silent, empty room instead of sharing those first moments after birth with your baby - you evolved.
In the painful days you may have waited to hold your baby for the first time - you evolved.
Every time you put a cold pump on your body instead of your sweet baby - you evolved.
The night, or many nights, you had to leave the hospital without your baby - you evolved.
Each time you had to advocate for your child’s life - you evolved.
The first time you were able to see your baby’s face without tubes and wires - you evolved.
The moment you walked out of the NICU doors with your precious gift in tow - you evolved.
We all evolve differently, at different paces and with different stories. Your evolution may be hard to understand and difficult to talk about. You may not yet fully understand or accept it. You are not the same woman you were before your NICU journey, and that is okay. As you connect with your sweet baby, may you also accept, forgive, and embrace your journey. You will continue to evolve and grow with each passing day. And someday you will look back at this evolution in awe, so proud of yourself and all you have become.”
Love,
Kelsey
More of Kelsey + Callan’s NICU Journey:
“Due to a chronic placental abruption, I went into labor and delivered my son, Callan Patrick, on October 29, 2020 at 26.0 weeks. He was born at an amazing hospital about 90 minutes away from our home after I was transferred by ambulance from our local hospital. In the few seconds that my amazingly supportive husband and I were able to see Callan after his birth, we both agreed that he was the most beautiful tiny miracle we had ever seen. Callan weighed 1 lb. 15 oz. and was 13 inches long. We could cradle one hand around him with room to spare. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, those few seconds with Callan after his birth would be the last time that my husband and I could see him together for his entire three-and-a-half-month stay. For 111 days, we drove 90 min each way to visit our sweet boy. On my weekday solo drives, I listened to the "Dear NICU Mama" podcasts religiously. They made me laugh, cry, and -most importantly- know that I wasn't alone in this journey. We feel extremely lucky that Callan had a pretty uncomplicated stay for being a 26 weeker. He progressed slowly but steadily, taking all the necessary steps needed to eventually come home off breathing support and feeding by mouth. He is the light that guided us through this unexpected journey, and we could not be more proud to be his parents. His big brother is also so excited to finally have his "Callan puppy" home to join the fun. Callan will be six months old on the 29th, and you know we are having a half birthday party for this rockstar!”
