Comments on: The Nurse

By: mjoy

mjoy — Thu, 03 May 2012 17:08:59 +0000

Hi Heather,

I know this is years too late and I don’t know if you will see this but I couldn’t help myself. My best friend who has been reading your blog for years recently sent me a link to Mike’s post “On the Wings of a Nightingale”. I am a NICU nurse and I cannot express how much I love my job. After reading Mike’s beautiful words I went back and started reading your story from the beginning during the few minutes of calm that periodically arise during a night shift (needless to say it took me weeks to get through Maddie’s time in the NICU!).

It took all of a split second for me to fall hopelessly in love with you, Mike and Maddie. Despite the fact that I am meeting your incredible family years after these posts were written and I knew from the beginning that your time with Maddie was far too short, her passing was still shocking to me and I have to admit that I have spent the past few days sobbing as I work through your grief with you.

I’m certain that three years later you know this already, and I hope that as I continue to read your moving words I will find a post that details your reconnection with your nurse, but I need to be sure that you know this: your angels are our angels and they change our lives as they change yours. Your nurse has never, and will never, forget Maddie. We remember every smile, every tear. The giggles and the snuggles are imprinted on our hearts and we cherish them as you do.

Last year I had the privilege of caring for a little man that wasn’t as lucky as Maddie. He lived only three months and never got to leave the hospital. Most importantly, he didn’t have amazing parents like you and Mike. As a result I spent more time with him than anyone else in the world. He became my life and he changed me irrevocably. Tomorrow would have been his first birthday. I have thought of him and sent up a prayer for him every one of the last 364 days. I can tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt, your nurse thinks of Maddie, and of you, all the time and is thankful that she was able to be with you when you needed her so terribly.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 01:58:07 +0000

Ashley, your story of your Aunt is much like my own. My first born son passed away 1 day shy of his 3rd month of life. His brother was born 18 months later, not because I wanted to replace Nicolas but because I felt incomplete… I was a mother but did not have a child to hug, kiss and tell him every day how much I loved him…
Heather, your story made me cry… I know that this post is from years ago and I hope that you have found the wonderful nurse that was there for you on that extremely sad day.

By: On The Wings Of A Nightingale — The Spohrs Are Multiplying...

On The Wings Of A Nightingale — The Spohrs Are Multiplying... — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 08:33:59 +0000

[...] the horrible day that Maddie passed there was a nurse who stayed by Heather’s side the whole time, and I am so thankful for her kindness to my wife. There was a nurse that mattered [...]

By: Carrie

Carrie — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 00:04:01 +0000

I believe people are placed in our lives just when we need them – seems to be what happened with this woman. You needed her to help you through the worst imaginable time, and she was there. I’m sure she thinks of you often. How wonderful would it be to see her again and tell her what she means to you. I sure hope you’ll be able to write about that happening some day!

By: Laura

Laura — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 10:10:08 +0000

I am so, so glad that you found her!!!!

By: deanna

deanna — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:24:42 +0000

i know this is old and maybe you wont see this comment, but as a pediatric icu nurse might i say that i am incredibly proud to consider this wonderful nurse as one of my colleagues. ours is a difficult job, but nowhere near as difficult as it is to be a parent of a child in the picu. i cant believe to begin to understand what is going on in the hearts and heads of my patient’s parents, but i can only hope that i’ve been able to be *that nurse* for some of my patients and their families when they’ve needed it. thank you for posting this, for the reminder that as a bedside nurse we are appreciated. i hope you’ve been able to find *your nurse,* but if not know that there is a picu nurse in nyc that is incredibly grateful to you for sharing this difficult memory. it’s helped to remind my why my job, even on the most difficult of days, is truly my calling.

By: Alex

Alex — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:27:23 +0000

Wow…every time I come across your story I find myself in tears. My heart goes out to you and I hope you find your nurse. It’s people who don’t even realise that they’re helping you that deserve the most thanks.
.-= Alex´s last blog ..Oh well, here goes… =-.

By: Krista

Krista — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:29:00 +0000

Well, Heather, your streak of making me cry every time I read your site continues unbroken. I’m so glad that you had someone like this nurse with you at such an awful time. As a health care provider, I can promise you that she remembers Maddie and those horrible hours vividly and wishes she could have changed the outcome for you and your beautiful daughter.

A possibility for finding your nurse: call the floor where she works, explain that you want to write a letter of thanks, and describe her. Someone is bound to be able to help.

I think of you often and have my fingers crossed that you and Binky enjoy a healthy full-term pregnancy and a good birth.

By: Paige

Paige — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:18:51 +0000

As a nurse, this brought tears to my eyes. It’s nice to be reminded of the long-term impact attentive and compassionate care can have on a family. I shared this post with several of my nurse friends. Thank you for this. And I hope you can be reunited with this nurse. I’m sure she would be touched to read this.

By: Two Makes Four

Two Makes Four — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 02:00:57 +0000

There always seems to be one amazing, life-changing nurse. I’m glad you had her then. I hope you find her again.
.-= Two Makes Four´s last blog ..The Effing Pumpkin Patch =-.