#30DaysofBrave Day 18- Domenica

Our boy Wiley Hill was born full term, just hours after mama's first contraction. He aspirated meconium on his rush into this world and was taken to the NICU to help his lungs heal. In the weeks that followed, my family became brave in ways we never knew possible. Splitting time between the hospital and our sweet 3 year old at home, one of us was by his side around the clock.

After over a year sheltering in place, I was suddenly in a situation where I (an introvert) had to form several important interpersonal relationships a day as my childs advocate. I had suffered severe PMADs after the birth of my first child and was terrified of adding the NICU experience to my list of risk factors for suffering this time around. There was no option to "take it easy" or heal from a pretty traumatic birth that did not go according to plan - I was lugging pumping supplies and milk and my duffel bag and paperwork to the hospital.

Unexpectedly, the NICU became a place of healing for both my son and myself. The village that were all told of when we have babies was built in - the nurses, doctors and volunteers, and lactation consultants helped me immeasurably in those fragile postpartum weeks.

Me, my son and my family left that hospital stronger and braver than I could have imagined.