Weary & Burdened Ep. 013: A NICU Christmas
Christmas means something different to everyone. Often, it’s filled with food, family, friends and memories. For as long as I can remember, I’ve done the same things every year, even transitioning my favorite childhood Christmas traditions into adulthood. Christmas of 2011 would be a stark contrast to anything I’d ever experienced. Christmas isn’t meant to be spent in a hospital. Families aren’t meant to celebrate apart. Yet, we, along with dozens of other families around us,
Weary & Burdened Ep. 012: Our Very Own Episode of House
Did you watch the TV series in the early 2000s with Hugh Laurie called House? It was one my favorites. If you’ve never seen it, the medical drama was about a team of diagnosticians of whom House was the lead. In each episode there was a medical mystery the doctors were tasked with solving. Typically, it went right to the wire and medical genius, House, would swoop in to determine which rare medical condition, disease or virus was at the root of the patient’s health issues. In
Weary & Burdened Ep. 011: Bluebird
The bluebird is a symbolic representation of happiness, health, new beginnings, birth and renewal. In many cultures the bluebird stands as a sentiment of positivity. It’s a sign of good things to come. In the NICU at BC Women’s Hospital, the bluebird is used to signify a milestone of health and development. Each NICU bed has a whiteboard. Listed on it is the name of the baby and other pertinent information. When that baby has reached a point where the medical staff determines
Weary & Burdened Ep. 010: We Don’t Have Long
The creation of this podcast series has been harder than I anticipated. It was my intention to tell a story that was both honest and transparent in an effort to bring about dialogue on a topic, grief and loss, that is too often swept under the rug or minimized. The topic and the story carry a deep level of personal meaning and purpose in my life. As a result, it has many layers of importance to me. I took detailed notes every day from the beginning of November 2011 to early J
