Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep…

By Lena Trondson • February 25, 2010

I love, love, love my job as a secretary in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit!!!! The only thing that could actually make my job better is if I was to became a NICU nurse and could do more to help these premature babies. What is there not to love about this job? I get to hold babies every day, bath them, feed them, rock them, and see them grow into healthier children. The daily contact with parents and other family members is very rewarding. Unfortunately, all stories are not success stories…during my first weeks on the job, we had a stillborn baby and the tasks that followed were very hard. We had to bath the baby, dress him, take pictures, foot- and hand prints and offer the same care as for a newborn healthy baby. It really puts life in perspective and makes you appreciate what you do have! The process of bereavement is tragic yet it was beautiful and appreciated by the family. There is a website called Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep that specializes in infant bereavement. It’s a beautiful website and a great resource for grieving parents.

The Elephant in the Room by Terry Kettering.

There’s an elephant in the room.
It is large and squatting, so it is hard to get around it.
Yet we squeeze by with, “How are you?” and “I’m fine.”
And a thousand other forms of trivial chatter.
We talk about the weather.
We talk about work.
We talk about everything else-except the elephant in the room.
There’s an elephant in the room.
We all know it’s there.
It is constantly on our minds.
For, you see, it is a very big elephant.
It has hurt us all.
But we do not talk about the elephant in the room.
Oh, please, say his name.
Oh, please, say his name again.
Oh, please, let’s talk about the elephant in the room.
For if we can talk about his death, perhaps we can talk about his life.
Can I say his name to you and not have you look away?
For if I cannot, then you are leaving me
Alone…In a room…
With an elephant