Good Things Always Are

Back in November, when I was rotating through the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), I met a family who was surprised by the early birth of their little boy. They were even more surprised when they learned that he had a rare chromosomal abnormality that would cause him to stay tiny and have trouble eating. He remained with us in the NICU for about 3 weeks, learning to eat and gain weight. But he was a poky little puppy and really struggled with taking his bottle.

Some volunteers made these adorable little bottles filled with confetti, garnished with ribbon and a card that said "My first whole bottle!" with a little space for filling in the date and who fed it to the baby.

I saw his mom eyeing those bottles, which decorated his neighbor's crib. His neighbor was a good eater, she just liked to stop breathing sometimes. But that's neither here nor there.

One night on call, while his parents took a much deserved break, I fed their little man his first whole bottle. But it was the night shift, and people were busy, so no whooping or hollering occurred. There was no ribbon or confetti. Just me and the tiny little man sticking our tongues out in triumph at the chubby baby in the neighboring crib. See, we can eat too!

A few days later I noticed he had a ribboned bottle, and a beaming mom. The ribboned bottle said "My first whole bottle! Fed by Nurse Jenny." I would be lying if I said I didn't feel a twinge of jealousy. That WASN'T his first whole bottle. But I just smiled and patted his little bottom as his mom showed me the outfit she picked out for his going home day. How I love this family! How I love good things!

Fast forward nine months. I was rushing down the hall to get to clinic when I saw him--all grown-up and chubby. Well, grown-up in comparison to his preemie days.

His mom, still beaming, was taking him to a check-up. Her family was with her and she proudly held the little man up in the air and asked me to take a gander at how much he weighed. I undershot, and she laughed and crinkled up her nose.

"This is Danielle." She said to her family, who all tried to shake my hand at once. "We met her in the NICU. She fed our little man his first whole bottle!!" The family all oohed and aahed like I was some sort of famous heart surgeon who had just completed a dangerous procedure with stunning dexterity.

"But wait," I said. "how..how did you...I thought no one noticed?"

She winked at me with happy eyes and kissed her baby's soft neck.

"Well, that's how good things always are!" she laughed.



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