What if you could be incredibly grateful for how far your child has come, yet still struggle with everything it took to get there? Or find tremendous joy and fulfillment in caring for NICU babies and their families, while acknowledging that some days are emotionally and physically exhausting? And what if the emotions we rarely talk about are the very ones so many of us share? Two things can be true at the same time. And perhaps it's time we talked about them.

In this special NICU Awareness Month episode, Nicole gets personal, sharing her perspective as both a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner and the mom of a former 23-week preemie who is now twelve years old.

From the unexpected emotions that surface years after leaving the NICU to the complicated realities of parental presence, the bittersweet experience of discharge, and the emotional demands of caring for our tiniest patients, this episode explores the things NICU parents and clinicians often feel but don't always say out loud.

And for the friends and family members of NICU parents, there's an especially important message: A happy ending doesn't erase a difficult beginning.

Whether you're currently navigating the NICU, reflecting on an experience from years ago, caring for NICU families, or simply trying to better understand someone you love, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.Because sometimes, the greatest gift we can give someone is understanding that two things can be true at the same time. đź’š

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Our NICU Roadmap: A Comprehensive NICU Journal: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/nicujournal/  

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Episode 83 Show Notes: https://empoweringnicuparents.com/episode83  

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