One Nurse Re-Imagines The Precious Neonatal Babies She Cares For

Nurse Jessica Wright spends her days caring for peaceful looking patients, but she knows the babies in her neonatal intensive care unit are quietly fighting a battle for their lives.

However, that doesn’t stop her and her fellow nurses from imagining the bright futures waiting for every child. In fact, she has big dreams for these babies.

A BEAUTIFUL ballerina.

An AMAZING astronaut.

A DARLING doctor.

A CHARMING chef.

An OUTSTANDING Olympian.

Nestled safely in their homes, babies often fall asleep to lullabies about twinkling stars and jumping sheep. In a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), babies fall asleep to steady beeps from monitors and whispered conversations between parents and caregivers.

Writing for the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s blog, Wright explains, “I like to think that I’ve cared for the next President of the United States, the scientist who’s going to help cure cancer, a Top Chef, an astronaut, an Olympic gold medalist, and dozens of teachers, firemen and fellow nurses.”

The idea was then adorably illustrated with doodles surrounding photos of the precious patients. It’s so cute that you almost don’t notice the wires and tubes affixed to their tiny features. 

Wright says she likes to think big when it comes to these babies because, “As evidenced by the size of the fight in their tiny bodies, these little ones have big things in store for the world.” 

Of course, the most important thing is that they all grow up to be one thing: healthy.

Jessica says, “When babies leave the hospital, the next chapter in their future is written by their parents. And that chapter begins with safe sleeping. As caregivers, we do all we can to educate families about why babies need to sleep alone on their backs and without blankets, stuffed animals or bumpers in their cribs. Because when those little eyelids get heavy and it’s time for sleep, the future of these presidents, astronauts and Olympians is left in the hands of those tucking them in.”

You can read more from Wright and other nurses like her at Dedicated to All Better, and help spread the message for healthy, happy babies everywhere.

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About the photos: They photographed their big dreamers in the NICU at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite on Aug. 29, 2014. Each of these little ones came into the world between 25 and 37 weeks gestation with legs barely thicker than a pencil. They’ve already earned nicknames: Future Doctor is “Wild One” and Future Gymnast is “Squirmy.” As of Oct. 6, 2014, Future Astronaut is home with his family, and the others continue to dream with us in the NICU.

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