We know that premature babies are little great heroes who fight to survive and thanks to the medical advances more and more of them get ahead. But this is not always the case and this image, together with the words that accompany it, hit us with a sad reality, transmitting us the excitement of a nurse hugging a lifeless baby.
It is unimaginable for us the pain that parents go through when they lose a child, as well as their whole family, but rarely do we consider what the people close to a hospitalized baby feel in these cases, the professionals who care for him, who pass a long time with him and to those who, without a doubt, something also goes away if the little one dies.
She is Brittany Denise, a nurse from Ohio, United States, and her words are a tribute to premature or sick newborns who do not survive. Sharing their words, at the same time, can be a tribute to their profession, a recognition of the hard and complex work they do. Because he tells us how pleasant his work is, when everything goes well, but also the hardest part.
Brittany wanted to support the baby without life and so we see them in this emotional image that she has shared on Facebook with the permission of the baby's family and that transmits all the love that can be had to a newborn, so fragile , when you spend so much time with him tried to get ahead. We leave you with the text that has moved us.
As most know, I work as a nurse. I perform my tasks in intensive care with children born premature or sick. Many people think that our job is just to feed and pamper babies, which sometimes I have the privilege of doing, but my job involves much more.
I have to take care of children who are born several months ahead of time to survive without the advances of medicine. I work with the team in charge of tracking babies' heartbeats, checking that they breathe and that the artificial respiration system always works.
I make diagnoses, I take care of them and I take care of giving them their medications. I teach new parents to change their fragile baby's diapers for the first time. I put the baby on the mother's chest for the first time (often with many cables and tubes), when she has not been able to hold it for days, maybe weeks. It comforts the mother when she cannot be with her baby, premature children go through treatments that nobody can imagine. I celebrate with the parents every little improvement, every time a cable is removed, every new gram of the child's weight.
I live with the parents the joy of being able to take their child home, having spent months in intensive care rooms. I see wonders. I witness how life returns and how it can overcome all obstacles. But sometimes it's not like that ...
I also have to help resuscitate babies when their heart stops or when their little bodies simply can't fight anymore. I curse myself thinking what we could have done better or differently when all medical options are over. I leave those cute little ones in the arms of their parents when neither science nor all the medicines in the world are enough. I give them the medicines so that they do not suffer in their last moments of life in this world. I help make molds and small memories that their families will love forever.
Yes, my job as a nurse may seem simple. But life shows me every day that it is much more than that.
I share memories with families and laugh and cry together. The hospital becomes your home. I hug parents when they leave their children's room for the last time and hope that my words can give them some comfort. Many times, I cry on my way home, in the shower or before falling asleep. I have the support of my partners. All those other nurses with whom I am fortunate to work. I learn from your wisdom and experience.
The photograph has been shared with the mother's consent to show the struggle we went through. The photo was taken when the little one had already left us, and it was a blessing to be with him even if it was for such a short time. I know that the nurses in the background feel the same way. Photo taken by the wonderful Ashley Trainer-Smas.
