Lessons learned from little ones...

Many of you know that I work at the Newborn Intensive Care Unit. We have babies of all sizes and lots of different backgrounds, histories, cultures, etc. Many people ask..."How can I work in an environment like that. I would have such a hard time working with sick babies."
I have to say that I absolutely LOVE my job. There isn't much more rewarding than to know that you are helping someone else who can't do that on their own. I get to know these babies really well and their families and get to keep in contact with some of them regularly. That's rewarding.

(these are just pictures I found...not actual pictures from our NICU)

Though certain restrictions apply and I can not share with you any details, I did have a situation yesterday that I am still pondering and wanted to share.
I do a 12 hour shift at the hospital from 6 to 6. When I first got to work, I was sent to go on a delivery where we proceeded to do a code and bring the baby immediately back to the NICU to put on a vent (a machine to help them breathe). Now this is quite common in the NICU and a lot of babies need that extra little help to get them situated to living here on earth.
Well...we started lines and gave medication, did labs and several other procedures. The day went by very fast. Now...there was one point of the day...just as it was slowing down...where we did an ultrasound and I was told that my baby has no chance of survival. Gulp... "What?" This baby looked so normal on the outside and yet...because of something on the inside...would not make it. After discussing it with a couple other doctors and confirming what we'd found...they told the parents. Wow. As a nurse, I am there as an advocate for my patient and I feel that I am also an advocate and comforter for the parents and family. But how do you help them? How do you comfort someone who's baby was born that morning and would soon have to pull tubes and let them go?
I held it in most of the day...giving tissues to the family and answering questions that they may have had. I actually wasn't there when they took out the tubes because it was the end of my shift...but I can't help but feel for this family.
As I drove home, I broke down. I couldn't get the father's swollen eyes out of my head or the brother's holding this baby's hand and whispering loving words or the mother's face of denial and comfort touch to this brand new baby.
Then later that night I was reading in the Book of Mormon. I'm in 3rd Nephi now and was to chapter 17. Jesus is visiting the Americas after he had been resurrected and was teaching the people. Then in verse 21-24 it says: "...And he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.
And when he had done this he wept again.
And he spake unto the multitude and said unto them: Behold your little ones.
And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them."
Although, it is a sad day at work, I joy in the truthfulness of the gospel. I cannot deny that I felt a sense of peace as read these scriptures yesterday, because I KNOW that Heavenly Father loves His children so much. And I know for a surety that this small baby will return to his Heavenly Father.
In D&C 137:10 it says: "And I also beheld that all children who die before they arrive at the years of accountability are saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven."
I had a younger brother who died at birth. And this scripture often brought me comfort. I know that I will be with him again and that he watches over our family. It would have been his birthday on February 16.
How I joy in the gospel of Christ.