Holiday gifts for the girls

The NICU staff here at Brigham and Women's is amazing. Our girls are under constant supervision and the nurses are so helpful and answer all of our questions. They help Stacey with feeding the girls and are always patient when I neurotically ask what every line or number on their monitor means.

It's remarkable to see all of the pictures, cards and other memories around
the NICU from past families who have spent time there. We are lucky to have two babies that were born with such good size and lungs. There are many babies in the NICU that were born much earlier or with more serious conditions. We see many pictures of toddlers who weighed less than 2 pounds when they were born!

When we went down to say good morning to the girls yesterday, in with each of them was a stuffed dog and a note. It was a gift from a family that had a baby in the NICU two years ago. They left a present for every single baby in the NICU.

I was touched by how these parents thought of all of us while we are here. Here is a picture of one of the dogs and I've included the text of the note below.

NICU Family,

Two years ago we spent our holidays in the same place you are today. During our two month stay, we would find gifts left for our baby from a NICU alumni. It was such a blessing to know that other people out there knew what we were going through and how we were feeling, especially during the holiday season - where Christmas (for us) was just another day and the New Year came and went without a blink.

So, here is our gift to you and your baby. It is soft and cuddly and full of love for your newborn. And know that you and your child are being thought of in this time of your life and we hope your day to take your baby home is just around the corner.

We wish you the best in 2008.

Audrey Corson and Family

NICU 59 days, alum January 2006