Operation Christmas Miracle
Making holidays in the hospital feel like home for families
Our Holiday Season in the NICU
During the first trimester of our pregnancy, my husband and I were planning for a Halloween with a pumpkin baby bump, a Thanksgiving Turkey that could rival my size (with stretchy pants), and celebrating our first Christmas as a family of three at home, surrounded by our dear family and close friends.
All of that changed when Mark arrived 3 months early. Our holiday plans were flipped on their heads, again.
Halloween
Our first Halloween was spent in the NICU, on “A Side” as it was known as back then. “A Side” was for your micropreemies, nanopreemies, very sick babies, babies recovering from surgery, and those who need more care and attention than other children.
Halloween wasn’t always my favorite holiday, but it was the first holiday that signified my favorite time of year- as I call the “Bers” (OctoBER, NovemBER, DecemBER).
I wasn’t completely sure what Halloween would look like in the NICU, especially since Mark was less than 2 pounds. Our nurse shared with us that there was an event happening just down the hall to help make our little ones' first Halloween costumes. Since Mark wasn’t big enough, or healthy enough to wear an actual costume, we opted to celebrate and make his first costume. He actually had 2, a pumpkin and his first-ever Batman Cape.
We didn’t trick or treat, or hand out candy like we had in years past, but we did spend the evening with our own sweet treat- no tricks attached.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving wasn’t spent around the dinner table with the whole family as it had been in the past. Instead, it was spent with our own little family of three, alarms, a meal voucher for the hospital, and one of our favorite nurses.
Mark was moved to “B Side” by Thanksgiving. This meant he was able to regulate his temperature, and reached the appropriate weight for him to wear clothes. I wasted no time to throw him in this first Thanksgiving outfit.
Our nurse, Georgina, noticed we had been at the hospital for most of the day, barely leaving Mark’s bedside. Her thoughtfulness, and kindness extended far beyond simply caring for Mark, but us as well. She gave us her Meal Vouchers for a free Thanksgiving meal at the hospital.
Our Thanksgiving wasn’t filled with smoked turkey, glazed ham, or any of the fixings we are used to, but we were stuffed to the brim with love, memories, kindness, and countless “firsts.”
Christmas
Growing up, we had a minimum of four trees, a decorated home, and plenty of traditions to keep us busy all month long. By the time Christmas 2018 rolled around, we had made it to Weaver Tower and we had moved into the hospital.
In an effort to prevent infection and control outside allergens, no real trees, or stockings were allowed inside. As usual, we made do with what we had and it was perfect.
Our Christmas Eve was spent reading Mark a Christmas-themed story in our Christmas Jammies. When Mark fell asleep we moved our paper stockings, and small fake Christmas tree to the table with presents- preparation for Santa’s arrival. We gave our night primary nurse, Summer, her Christmas gift and we prepared for the morning. After years of my holiday understanding, the definition of Christmas truly changed.
When we woke up (to an Alarm that told everyone on the floor that Mark' pulled out his nasal cannula), we saw a rouge present- one we did not recognize.
It was a book called, “Giraffes Can’t Dance.” All of the presents that we brought to the hospital for Mark were things like a blanket, a rattle, and a pacifier holder and a book that celebrates being unique and taking charge of unusual circumstances really was a Christmas Miracle.
“The Holidays in the hospital are a strange and frightening time for everyone. You don’t just get to celebrate the magic of the season. You still have to face the reality of families being limited to one income, loss of work, and illness. The holidays are hard; being in the hospital during the holidays is even harder.”
— Brittany