NICU reunion: "Our community is lucky to have you!"

"Being a NICU parent is not for the faint of heart."

Editor's note: We are honored to share patient stories that celebrate our amazing staff and providers! Do you have a patient, staff or provider story to share? Email me: emily.sweet@salemhealth.org.

"Being a NICU parent is not for the faint of heart."

The Family Birth Center held their annual NICU reunion June 17 on the Salem campus. This year, the featured family was the Peterson family, above. Below, Clinical Nurse Kirstin Peterson, BSN, shares about her boys, Cal and Lincoln, both born prematurely: 

"Being a NICU parent is not for the faint of heart. It is scary, stressful and exhausting. My boys were both born prematurely. My first at 30 weeks, weighing 1 pound, 15 ounces, and my second at 26.3 weeks, weighing 1 pound, 1 ounce. 

"I don't know how I would have gotten through..."

"I don't know how I would have gotten through my two NICU stays without the amazing care and support we received at Salem Hospital. The doctors and nurse practitioners never failed to keep me updated on my son's condition even when I couldn't be at the bedside. 

"They always took my observations into account and were there to answer my questions. The nurses were my shoulder to cry on and my boys' biggest cheerleaders. They worked tirelessly to make sure they were giving the absolute best care possible. The respiratory therapists were also there with us every step of the way, from the first skin-to-skin to celebrating respiratory support finally coming off. Having a preemie is incredibly difficult, but knowing I had the support, skill, compassion and knowledge of the NICU team made a difficult situation a little bit easier.

"I couldn't imagine having better care than we did." 

"I couldn't imagine having better care than we did. I will forever be grateful to the Salem Hospital NICU team. Thank you for everything you did for my family and continue to do for other NICU families. Our community is lucky to have you!"