CLEVELAND — The sounds of the NICU are triggering. Worried parents are left wondering when, or if, their babies get to leave here.
"We take care of the smallest little patients. Some of them are now are under a pound all the way up to your full-term babies that have some complex medical needs," said Renee Grabski, registered nurse with University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital.
It's also a place of hope. Because, here at Rainbow Babies' NICU, health heroes like 26-year-old Alyssa Zeitler, help the tiniest patients make the mightiest comebacks.
"I signed up to be Arlo's primary. So primary nursing is when I'm working, I have Arlo to kind of keep that continuity of care and be a familiar face for the family," Alyssa said.
Arlo was born at 24 weeks. And, life for him? Not promised.
"It was found that he had brain bleeds that were pretty severe," Alyssa said.
His young parents needed a calming voice. They found it, in Alyssa.
"There [were] days and nights where we didn't know if he was gonna survive through them. So, on top of them being scared and also with how small he was, I just wanted to make sure that they were getting physical touch with him and bonding with him," Alyssa said.
"She would comfort us and let us vent to her and she would reassure us that everything's gonna be okay," said Arlo's mom, Licel Ballesteros.
Being that kind of NICU nurse in the middle of a pandemic takes focus, grit, and compassion. That's a sentiment echoed by Alyssa's mentor, Renee.
"It is hard on the body because sometimes you're standing by that isolette for your whole shift, which is usually eight to 12 hours. And...you come out of there and your back is sore. Your feet are killing you. Your shoulders hurt. Your brain is exhausted from doing all the thinking and trying to things out," Renee said. "She's very, very helpful. She is really, really good with the families."
Families, that Alyssa says, she will never forget.
"Thinking about it, like makes me tear up. You're so strong in those situations, and like you don't realize how big of an impact you're really making."
"Now he smiles and he coos and he recognizes my voice," Alyssa said. "I went in there and I was talking to him and he's smiling. He's cooing. Like, I wasn't a stranger to him...which means so much."
Arlo got his mighty comeback. He's home now and thriving, thanks to his NICU angel, Alyssa. And his parents? Thank you will never be enough.
"Thank you, Alyssa, for everything that you've done for me, his dad and Arlo, especially. You're the best primary that we could have had. And we wouldn't chosen a different primary than you," Arlo's mom said.
Alyssa, thank you for being a hero with heart.
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3News wanted to find a way to thank these incredible "Heroes with Heart" on the Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital NICU staff. And Lindsay Buckingham surprised Alyssa and the team at University Hospitals with some well-deserved gifts live on-air:
-Spirit Airlines generously gifted Alyssa two round-trip tickets to anywhere in the world where they fly - perfect for a well-earned getaway.
-Panera wanted to make sure the entire team enjoyed a delicious meal, and donated $500 in gift cards to supply the team with plenty of food to keep them fueled on their long shifts.
-Simple Modern donated 140 water bottles to the entire NICU team to help them stay hydrated during their long shifts. Simple Modern is a leading producer of premium drinkware and lifestyle products committed to generosity while delivering high-quality and relevant styles at generous prices. Simple Modern is proud to partner with WKYC 3 News to thank and honor the University Hospitals NICU team for the difference they are making in the lives of others.
-Everyone on the NICU team will receive compression socks from Poppy Scrubs. Poppy’s compression socks provide constant compression to support your legs and feet, and help fight fatigue. They promote blood flow and circulation while preventing soreness.