Barbara Dean
September 2018
Barbara
Dean
,
BSN, RNC-NIC, CPLC
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Christiana Care Health Services
Newark
,
DE
United States
This past November, as part of an IMPACT consult (Infant, Maternal, Pediatric Advanced Care Team), Barbara Dean, RNC, and a doctor met with a 21-year-old who was 36 weeks pregnant with her first child. The infant had been diagnosed with multiple anomalies including anencephaly and Trisomy 13, with an anticipated life expectancy of minutes to hours.
This first meeting was focused on relationship building and assessment of their knowledge, feelings, and expectations. Barbara and the doctor were able to discuss making each day count while pregnant, plans and expectations for the delivery, and ways to make memories after their daughter's birth.
Barbara Dean helped the family locate a Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep photographer who would be present during and after the delivery to take meaningful photographs. Knowing that the baby was to be named V, she also gathered purple scrapbooking supplies, purple ink, purple ribbon (for handprints and footprints, and name signs), and a purple bunny. In addition, she made a Christmas ornament especially for the family. She also found volunteers to make special V colored hats for the baby to wear in varying sizes (with anencephaly, a major part of the brain, skull, or scalp may be missing).
Baby V lived less than two hours after her birth, but during that time she was surrounded with love and care by her family and many others. Barb, as the IMPACT representative, was present throughout the morning of V's birth to coordinate the care and guide the family in carrying out their birth plan, creating molds of the handprints and footprints, and helping the family make special memories with V in the short time that they had together. Barb was also instrumental in seamlessly synchronizing the family's move (along with V) to 3A for the remainder of their stay.
The story of V is only one of the many families over the years that Barbara Dean has assisted. She has unselfishly supported, encouraged, and guided families who are facing the most difficult loss any of us can imagine. Through her association with IMPACT, as Chair of the Maternal Child Bereavement team, and as a mentor for all of us who are fortunate to learn from her, she continues to serve those around her with love, compassion, and excellence.
This first meeting was focused on relationship building and assessment of their knowledge, feelings, and expectations. Barbara and the doctor were able to discuss making each day count while pregnant, plans and expectations for the delivery, and ways to make memories after their daughter's birth.
Barbara Dean helped the family locate a Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep photographer who would be present during and after the delivery to take meaningful photographs. Knowing that the baby was to be named V, she also gathered purple scrapbooking supplies, purple ink, purple ribbon (for handprints and footprints, and name signs), and a purple bunny. In addition, she made a Christmas ornament especially for the family. She also found volunteers to make special V colored hats for the baby to wear in varying sizes (with anencephaly, a major part of the brain, skull, or scalp may be missing).
Baby V lived less than two hours after her birth, but during that time she was surrounded with love and care by her family and many others. Barb, as the IMPACT representative, was present throughout the morning of V's birth to coordinate the care and guide the family in carrying out their birth plan, creating molds of the handprints and footprints, and helping the family make special memories with V in the short time that they had together. Barb was also instrumental in seamlessly synchronizing the family's move (along with V) to 3A for the remainder of their stay.
The story of V is only one of the many families over the years that Barbara Dean has assisted. She has unselfishly supported, encouraged, and guided families who are facing the most difficult loss any of us can imagine. Through her association with IMPACT, as Chair of the Maternal Child Bereavement team, and as a mentor for all of us who are fortunate to learn from her, she continues to serve those around her with love, compassion, and excellence.