Lila Caho
July 2024
Lila
Caho
,
RN
NICU
Baylor University Medical Center
Dallas
,
TX
United States
Her genuine assurance & honesty when I asked about my son’s well-being brought a sense of relief amidst the confusion & distress.
As a first-time father, the arrival of my wife and first child brought with it overwhelming joy as well as unforeseen challenges. My wife required an unplanned Cesarean Section, and we are thankful for the doctors who performed the delivery of our son B.
Although more physically limited, my wife & I were able to enjoy our first hour together as a family. While my wife was being settled into our room, I was following a nurse & our son as they finished his examination in the nursery area. My anticipation of the initial moments with our newborn was abruptly replaced by a flurry of unforeseen events. Instead of being by my wife’s side, I found myself with nurses, observing my son as he began to have struggles breathing, which ultimately led to a transfer to the NICU. Hours after supporting my wife in surgery, this new development set off a chain of worries that left me stretched thin, exhausted, and emotionally drained. With my spouse in recovery and our baby’s health in question, the weight of the situation was immense, exacerbated by sleepless hours & feelings of helplessness.
Amidst the chaos, I struggled to keep up with the various transitions our son underwent until an unexpected ray of hope emerged in the form of a nurse named Lila. Despite the limitations of offering comfort over the phone, Lila’s demeanor exuded an innate ability to provide solace & confidence in my son’s condition. Her genuine assurance & honesty when I asked about my son’s well-being brought a sense of relief amidst the confusion & distress. Despite not being able to divulge details until I registered at the reception & confirmed my child’s identification, Lila’s words were a lifeline. Her invitation to visit the NICU transformed the overwhelming anxiety-inducing process into one that felt straightforward & secure, assuring me that my son was in capable hands. At that moment, amidst my teetering emotions, having Lila as my point of contact was truly a blessing.
I know this was just one set of interactions amongst so many the healthcare professionals participate in daily. I also have no doubt that this was just one instance of Lila’s impact on the lives of patients & families every day. But as I sit at home with my wife & son I want to extend a heartfelt Thank you to Lila, who was there when this (overwhelmed) first-time Dad needed it.
Although more physically limited, my wife & I were able to enjoy our first hour together as a family. While my wife was being settled into our room, I was following a nurse & our son as they finished his examination in the nursery area. My anticipation of the initial moments with our newborn was abruptly replaced by a flurry of unforeseen events. Instead of being by my wife’s side, I found myself with nurses, observing my son as he began to have struggles breathing, which ultimately led to a transfer to the NICU. Hours after supporting my wife in surgery, this new development set off a chain of worries that left me stretched thin, exhausted, and emotionally drained. With my spouse in recovery and our baby’s health in question, the weight of the situation was immense, exacerbated by sleepless hours & feelings of helplessness.
Amidst the chaos, I struggled to keep up with the various transitions our son underwent until an unexpected ray of hope emerged in the form of a nurse named Lila. Despite the limitations of offering comfort over the phone, Lila’s demeanor exuded an innate ability to provide solace & confidence in my son’s condition. Her genuine assurance & honesty when I asked about my son’s well-being brought a sense of relief amidst the confusion & distress. Despite not being able to divulge details until I registered at the reception & confirmed my child’s identification, Lila’s words were a lifeline. Her invitation to visit the NICU transformed the overwhelming anxiety-inducing process into one that felt straightforward & secure, assuring me that my son was in capable hands. At that moment, amidst my teetering emotions, having Lila as my point of contact was truly a blessing.
I know this was just one set of interactions amongst so many the healthcare professionals participate in daily. I also have no doubt that this was just one instance of Lila’s impact on the lives of patients & families every day. But as I sit at home with my wife & son I want to extend a heartfelt Thank you to Lila, who was there when this (overwhelmed) first-time Dad needed it.