Dear NICU Mama Podcast Recap
A few months ago, I was approached by Ashley from Dear NICU Mama about being a guest on their podcast. While extremely flattered, I found myself a bit anxious about what I would talk about since our NICU experience was 13.5 years ago. After several days of pondering, I realized that not only could I talk about what we went through and how our lives were forever altered, but I could also tell these new NICU mamas how incredibly lucky they are to have a resource like Dear NICU Mama.
Our NICU journey began with the premature birth of our twin sons, Sam and Jack. Born at just 27 weeks, they weighed barely over two pounds each and faced numerous health challenges. The weeks and months that followed were a blur of beeping monitors, medical jargon, and an overwhelming sense of helplessness. The NICU became our second home, a place where hope and fear coexisted in equal measure.
I don’t speak about our NICU experience often anymore—it seems so long ago and now my life is consumed with typical kid stuff like being a chauffeur 10 hours a day! So when I sat down and clicked “join podcast,” my heart skipped a beat. Would I remember it all? Would it resonate with listeners? Who really wants to hear my story anyway?
What happened during my interview was the cathartic experience of being honest with my experience and my feelings. I was not only able to tell our story in medical speak but also share what happened after. How we felt incredibly alone and isolated, but tried to rally our spirits to bring joy to our home. How we felt lost and terrified, but were too young to know any different. How even though we lost some friendships and our view of people changed, we gained some of the most wonderful memories and people.
I cried a lot during that first podcast. Memories and feelings that I didn’t realize were still there, were indeed still there. When we were knee-deep in the NICU and all the stuff that came after, I couldn’t deal with the feelings of grief and anger. And frankly, life just continued on a never-ending roller coaster with surgeries, hospital stays, and the birth of two additional children. The podcast was the therapy I didn’t know I needed.
Reflecting on those days, I remembered the small moments of kindness that made a big difference. The nurse who stayed past her shift to comfort us, the friend who organized meal deliveries, and the strangers who became part of our support network. These gestures, no matter how small, helped us navigate the darkest days.
The NICU experience is a unique and challenging journey, one that tests your resilience and reshapes your perspective. For new NICU mamas, having a community like Dear NICU Mama is invaluable. It provides a space to share, connect, and heal—a lifeline that I wish I had during our time in the NICU.
If you would like to read more about our journey with our twin sons, Sam and Jack, their story is posted on my website 3 Misters and a Sister. Sharing our story has not only been a way to honor our sons' journey but also a means to offer hope and solidarity to other families walking a similar path.
I encourage anyone who has experienced the NICU journey to share their story. Your experiences, no matter how old, are powerful and can provide comfort and hope to others. Being a part of Dear NICU Mama’s podcast reminded me of the strength we all have, and the importance of community and connection.
