Love, Jamie
“Dear NICU Mama, Your motherhood story is worth all the tears that may be shed. I see you. I see the strength in your eyes, even when they are filled with tears.
Your motherhood story is not just worth the tears—it is built from them. Those tears of sadness, of fear, of embarrassment, of uncertainty, and yes, even of anger and frustration—they are not signs of weakness, but of profound love and resilience. Let the tears fall. Those tears are the quiet proof of your love.
You are navigating a journey you never expected, a path that is filled with challenges and unknowns. Yet, here you are, showing up every day for your little one. That is nothing short of extraordinary.
It's okay not to be okay. It's okay to feel overwhelmed, to feel lost, to feel like you're carrying the weight of the world. You are not alone. There is a community of mothers who understand, and who are here to hold you up when you feel like you can't stand.
And then there are the other tears—the ones that come when your baby meets a milestone, however small, or when joy and hope break through the fog. These tears are sacred. They are the beautiful.
The journey may seem endless, but each day is a step forward. Each tear shed is a testament to your commitment, and love. You are doing more than surviving—you are thriving in the face of adversity. And that is something to be incredibly proud of.
Remember, you are not just a mother—you are a warrior. Your story is one of courage, and it is inspiring.
You are seen. You are loved. You are enough.”
Love,
Jamie
More of Jamie + Nala’s NICU Journey:
"Jamie, a labor and delivery nurse, never imagined she’d become the patient—but at 20 weeks pregnant, a routine appointment revealed her placenta was insufficient, and she was admitted to the hospital for emergency bed rest at 25 weeks. The hardest part was hearing the words: You won’t be going home until your baby is born. For six weeks, Jamie navigated the emotional toll of waiting and worrying, until at just 26 weeks, she delivered her daughter, Nalah. Weighing just over a pound, Nalah was rushed to the NICU, where Jamie entered a new kind of caregiving—one filled with monitors, alarms, and moments that left her breathless, like the day she watched Nalah’s heartbeat slow on the screen. Their journey was marked by diagnoses like IUGR, oligo, insufficient placenta flow, and abruption—words Jamie had once used clinically but now carried in her own heart. Through fear and setbacks, she found strength in her faith, her family, and the fierce love she had for Nalah. Jamie shares her story so that other NICU moms, especially those facing high-risk pregnancies and early deliveries, feel seen, supported, and reminded that they are never alone."
