“Pregnancy is an absolute journey and an exciting time! For me, being a type 1 diabetic, I was never sure if I would ever be able to have children. When we found out that we were pregnant, there was SO many emotions! All was going well with every four week appointments for my diabetes and for high risk ultrasounds. One night, I started to not feel well and felt as though I could not catch a full breath. Wanting to make sure baby was okay, I went to the Canadian Valley ER. I was admitted immediately and within two hours of admission, I was being told I was being transported to Baptist Labor & Delivery. After one hour of being at Baptist, I was being told that at 29 weeks and 4 days, I would be having a baby due to sever preeclampsia and HELLP's syndrome. We were so incredibly scared and nervous and didn't even have time to process what was happening. Well, we gave birth to a preemie that weighed a whopping 4lbs 3oz. After that, she spent the next 40 days in the Baptist NICU where she was being monitored at all hours of the day. After 40 days, we were able to take our sweet baby girl home and she is as healthy and happy as she could possibly be.My passion to give to the NICU means a great deal due to the fact that being first time parents, we were completely terrified of all that could happen and when I was discharged and wouldn't be able to just go around the corner to see my daughter, I was petrified. After seeing how well the NICU staff handled all situations and answered all questions and how amazing they were with the babies, made me feel 100% better about being able to go home. I knew that she was in GREAT hands. I could tell by each nurse and doctor that they were in the profession that they loved and enjoyed and it's exactly where they were supposed to be! The NICU staff helped to keep my little girl going and grow strong and helped me to feel at ease. The NICU staff is absolutely amazing. My passion will ALWAYS be for the NICU staff due to all that was done to help us and our little girl. THANK YOU NICU!!!!”