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When we found out, our worlds were completely broken. I remember feeling like I was in a horrible dream, praying that somehow they were wrong. I wasn’t sure why this was happening to us, and as a young, first-time mom it was a really jarring experience.

�þþþþþþþ�Ʒ Children’s was with us from the very moment we had a formal diagnosis — and all the emotions after. Brooklyn’s diagnosis impacted every second of my day. There wasn’t a time when we weren’t thinking about the future and what it would hold for her. 

Something that really sticks out to me is when we were pulled into the conference room and pediatric cardiologist Dr. Madueme came in to explain Brooklyn’s condition to us. He very carefully drew out her condition on the board in easy-to-understand pictures and was very compassionate about the situation, allowing Brooklyn’s father and me to have moments to collect ourselves to make sure we were retaining all this crucial information. 

We then met with the cardiac surgeons (Dr. Wearden and Dr. Nelson), and I very forwardly asked about their confidence in performing this surgery on our baby. I was told they felt very confident, which gave me reassurance to allow them to take her behind those big white doors into the operating room.

Down to our favorite anesthesiologist, we have “family” in each corner of the hospital ready to cheer us on. They provided me with comfort, even taking me away from the hospital room when it started to become too much so they could speak to me not as a patient, but as a friend. 

Throughout her care I’ve remained firm in one thing: �þþþþþþþ�Ʒ Children’s isn’t just a hospital, it’s a family.

When we found out we were expecting again, two and a half years later, we were terrified. Unsure of what may come from this pregnancy, we were referred once again to maternal-fetal medicine at �þþþþþþþ�Ʒ Children’s. They welcomed us back into the clinic with arms open, remembering our family and faces. 

Our �þþþþþþþ�Ʒ Children’s team was extremely thorough in making sure she was heart healthy, and in the process found out one of her kidneys was enlarged. They followed me throughout the pregnancy to make sure everything went as it was supposed to. Thankfully, her kidney returned to normal prior to delivery. However, I ended up having severe pre-eclampsia and delivering at 35 weeks. Without the team at �þþþþþþþ�Ʒ Children’s standing up for me, I feel I would have continued to be ignored by my OB/GYN. I’m positive they saved our lives — again.

We found out we were pregnant with our third and last beautiful baby, last year. Obviously full of panic due to the previous traumatic experiences, I was sent to maternal-fetal medicine at �þþþþþþþ�Ʒ Children’s at around 13 weeks, where we continued with fetal echoes to check his heart, and everything else. Dr. Madueme reassured me that his heart looked very healthy. My blood pressure was taken very seriously and managed with medication. The team never told me that anything was just in my head. Instead, they listened with an open ear. I ended up delivering at 33 weeks with severe pre-eclampsia again, and I believe had I not been cared for at �þþþþþþþ�Ʒ Children’s yet again, we wouldn’t have been able to get that far. 

�þþþþþþþ�Ʒ Children’s has been a huge part of our story, and we owe them our lives. 

For us there will never be a “normal” with Brooklyn and we’ve come to terms with knowing we’re so very blessed to be riding this roller coaster with the most amazing little one I’ve ever had the honor of meeting. I feel it’s important to focus on the now and be grateful for the things we’ve overcome already. It’s hard to think about the future when there are still many unknowns, so we’ll simply be grateful for every day our baby girl wakes up to good health with a beautiful smile. 

And I still call �þþþþþþþ�Ʒ Children’s our family. From helping us through the very raw emotions of finding out something is wrong with our baby, to holding our hands while we cried, to making sure we always felt like �þþþþþþþ�Ʒ Children’s was our second home. I’ve never allowed any of my children to be seen by anybody who isn’t a part of the �þþþþþþþ�Ʒ Children’s healthcare system, as my trust for their doctors, nurses, and surgeons is unmatched.

I’d tell them that even though this feels like it’s the end of the world, it’s actually a new beginning. A new beginning of love, strength, and bravery. I would tell them how important it is to take care of yourself just as much as you do your sweet baby. You are important too and it’s okay to take a minute. It’s okay to leave the hospital to take a shower or rest. 

You can trust that these nurses and doctors will love and take care of your baby. And always speak up and always ask questions. The only stupid question is the one not asked! I’d tell them they’re doing an amazing job, and I’m so proud of them for getting up today.