Recently, a mother and father made the hard decision to donate to Midwest Transplant Network (MTN) after their baby's passing. The charge nurse in the Intensive Care Nursery (ICN) called to see if MTN could use the Fetal Health Center Operating Room instead of the main Operating Room because the family was familiar with the Fetal Health Center and felt better for the baby to be with the FHC team. The parents wanted to walk their baby to the doors of the OR when it was time. Our team that night (Sara, Sonya, Morgan, Mauri, and Kendra) thought it would be great if we could do an Honor/Legacy walk. Kendra made the call to the charge nurse in the Intensive Care Nursery and she thought it would be a great idea if the parents agreed. The parents were grateful for the opportunity and thanked us. Within 15 minutes of that decision the chaplain (Josh), the ICN nurses that were available, all of the transport and Fetal Health Center nurses lined the halls and watched the parents walk their baby to the OR doors where they met the physician from Midwest Transplant Network. There was not a dry eye in the place. I was so thankful that so many participated in such a short time and in the middle of the night.
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I'm the father of a patient whose child lasted 3 hours before passing at the Fetal Health Center (FHC). I wanted to leave a comment on how impressed I am with the staff here at the FHC. The women and men, nurses, doctors, Chaplains and everyone here are a part of a unit that truly does God's work. The passing of my grandson and the anguish it caused my daughter was the hardest thing this Marine Veteran and Police Officer of 20 years has ever dealt with. The Fetal Health Center took on that burden of pain WITH us, shared tears and will never be forgotten.