Luci Goss
December 2016
Lucinda
Goss
,
RN
NICU
St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital and Health Care Center
Indianapolis
,
IN
United States
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Nurse is a unique person. They are a combination of caregiver, therapist, and confidant. To tell the story of the amazing nurse I am nominating, I have to tell a part of my family's story.
My wife and I welcomed twin boys to our family. They are very special babies; they were both born with Downs Syndrome. There is a 1 in 2 million chance of identical twins being born with Downs Syndrome. They were also born ten weeks early with some serious medical conditions. Needless to say, my family is facing some challenges. Understanding my family's circumstances will help everyone better understand my nomination for this nurse.
Luci Goss was one of the first nurses that our family met when our boys first arrived. We were excited, scared, and exhausted after a couple of very long days. Luci was as calm as still waters and patiently answered all our questions. She gave my wife a beautiful gift the first night we met. She let my wife hold her son for the first time. We were afraid that we would put him in danger by holding him. She gave us some tough love and sound advice. She told us, "First, he is your son and needs to be held by his parents. Second, I have been a nurse for over 20 years, and it is my job to ensure your babies are safe." Luci put some very uneasy parents at easy. Her compassion and understanding are some of her many gifts.
Luci works the night shift. I took the evening shift with the boys while they were residents of the NICU. Luci and I spent a lot of long nights talking. Over that time, I expressed my fears about the kids being special needs and all their additional medical concerns. Luci shared with me her family story. She is also a parent of a special needs child. She taught me that special needs does not define your child. Your child defines who they are, and it takes strong parents to help them on their journey to finding their place in the world.
Every NICU nurse at St. Vincent Women's Hospital is a gift. They are in charge of every parent's most valuable possession, but Lucinda Goss is a special gift. She cares for my children with the same unconditional love she gives her family, and she taught a scared Dad that life is not over, it is just beginning. I can only hope I can be as strong for my children as she is for hers.
My wife and I welcomed twin boys to our family. They are very special babies; they were both born with Downs Syndrome. There is a 1 in 2 million chance of identical twins being born with Downs Syndrome. They were also born ten weeks early with some serious medical conditions. Needless to say, my family is facing some challenges. Understanding my family's circumstances will help everyone better understand my nomination for this nurse.
Luci Goss was one of the first nurses that our family met when our boys first arrived. We were excited, scared, and exhausted after a couple of very long days. Luci was as calm as still waters and patiently answered all our questions. She gave my wife a beautiful gift the first night we met. She let my wife hold her son for the first time. We were afraid that we would put him in danger by holding him. She gave us some tough love and sound advice. She told us, "First, he is your son and needs to be held by his parents. Second, I have been a nurse for over 20 years, and it is my job to ensure your babies are safe." Luci put some very uneasy parents at easy. Her compassion and understanding are some of her many gifts.
Luci works the night shift. I took the evening shift with the boys while they were residents of the NICU. Luci and I spent a lot of long nights talking. Over that time, I expressed my fears about the kids being special needs and all their additional medical concerns. Luci shared with me her family story. She is also a parent of a special needs child. She taught me that special needs does not define your child. Your child defines who they are, and it takes strong parents to help them on their journey to finding their place in the world.
Every NICU nurse at St. Vincent Women's Hospital is a gift. They are in charge of every parent's most valuable possession, but Lucinda Goss is a special gift. She cares for my children with the same unconditional love she gives her family, and she taught a scared Dad that life is not over, it is just beginning. I can only hope I can be as strong for my children as she is for hers.