"A poem for the NICU nurses"

My beautiful baby boy was born 9 weeks early and had to spend the first month of his life in the Neonatal Unit in Craigavon Area Hosptial.

I wrote a poem to express how this was for me. The staff and atmosphere was so calming and supportive, and I am grateful for everything that they do. They made me and my partner feel so included in everything that was going on, they offered endless amounts of support, and they were just the best bunch of people.  

This poem is for anyone else who has, or may currently be going through the similar situation of their baby being in the NICU. 

NICU NURSES

It is all quite overwhelming, as you walk in for the first time, you hear the beeping of machines, but tell yourself you'll be fine.

You visit all the different rooms, each one for every step, you don't know how fast you will progress, and that's something you learn to accept.

You put your faith in strangers, and trust them to do their best, you have to leave without your baby, but they expect you to "get some rest".

These strangers soon become familiar, as you begin to know them by name, they all impact you differently, not one of them are the same.

You talk about a knight in armour, sometimes it's a nurse in scrubs, doing everything they can to help you, because that's what a NICU nurse does.

Your baby is brought in here, from the minute they are born, sometimes before you've seen them, and it leaves your heart torn.

But the second that you see them, all tucked up in their room, you start to feel more content, that maybe they'll be out soon.

The nurses keep an eye on them, all morning, noon and night, your perfect little soldier,  who is putting up a fight.

A fight to become a little stronger, each and every day, a fight to get to go home, but that might not be today.

The nurses can not tell you, when you will get your baby home, the NICU works day by day, to help your little one grow.

When the day comes for you to graduate, it's hard for us not to cry, because we are so grateful, as the nurses come to say goodbye.

Each and every one of them, holds a special place in our heart, they've helped you come this far my son , they've been with you from the start.

The Nurses in the NICU, are an amazing group compiled, of such special, loving people, who will care for another's child.

They will love them like they are their own, and get involved much more than they have to, but that's the job of a NICU nurse, and I am honoured to have met you.