Life as a NICU Mama

When the NICU Calls You Back Some time after Lola and I were finally discharged from the NICU, I got a call that left me in tears. Not the kind of tears that come from fear or exhaustion—but tears of gratitude. They wanted to know: would I serve as a parent advocate on the board planning the build-out of a brand-new, state-of-the-art NICU? Umm… yes. A thousand times yes! For context: the old NICU was one large, dimly lit room divided by flimsy curtains. Privacy didn’t exist—y

The Art of Resilience Preemies arrive early, small, fragile, and surrounded by monitors, tubes, and alarms. Every parent knows that first sight in the NICU can feel like your world has just shattered. I know this firsthand. I am here to tell you though, that feeling "broken" doesn’t mean ruined. It’s precious. It’s powerful. It’s Kintsugi. For those of you who have never heard of Kintsugi- it is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold. Instead of hiding the cra

A NICU mom shares how acupuncture became a lifeline during her preemie’s journey—helping her heal, find calm, and discover resilience.

A New Reality Motherhood never goes according to plan- and for some of us before it ever really starts. Sometimes, the universe hands you a plot twist you would have never written for yourself. For me, it was the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). “She’s going to survive, right?” I asked the doctor. My voice weaker than expected, my body prepped for an emergency C-section, fluorescent lights too bright, heart pounding too loud. It was May 2013. My due date was still eleven