My Story
My name is Sam, and I'm a NICU nurse, mom, and bereaved parent. NICU Necessities was born from both my personal journey and my passion for helping families navigate one of the most difficult seasons of their lives.
My path to motherhood wasn't easy. My first pregnancy ended in miscarriage at 12 weeks, leaving me heartbroken and feeling completely alone. No one had ever talked to me about pregnancy loss, and I didn't know anyone who truly understood what I was experiencing.
A few months later, I became pregnant again and this time, I was expecting twin girls. What began as overwhelming joy quickly became a high-risk pregnancy when one of my daughters stopped growing as expected. At just 20 weeks, I was placed on complete bedrest, hoping to give both girls every chance possible.
At 25 weeks, my world changed forever. During an ultrasound, I learned that one of my daughters, Cadence, no longer had a heartbeat. I remained pregnant with both girls for several more weeks, carrying one daughter who had passed while desperately hoping to protect her surviving twin.
When I went into labor at 30 weeks, both girls were delivered by cesarean section. Cadence was stillborn, and her twin sister, Lexi, was rushed to the NICU.
Nothing could have prepared me for the emotional whiplash of those first days. One moment I was holding my tiny daughter in the NICU, surrounded by monitors and tubes, praying she would survive. The next, I was saying goodbye to Cadence and planning her funeral while recovering from childbirth.
During Lexi's four-week NICU stay, I experienced every emotion imaginable fear, grief, hope, anxiety, joy, and exhaustion. I learned how overwhelming the NICU can feel, how confusing the medical language is, and how desperately parents need someone to answer their questions and simply acknowledge what they're going through.
The nurses who cared for Lexi did more than care for my daughter they cared for me. Their compassion, patience, and encouragement changed my life.
Because of that experience, I returned to school and became a NICU nurse.
Today, I have the privilege of caring for babies and supporting families during some of the hardest days of their lives. Every time I walk into a patient's room, I remember what it felt like to sit in that chair as a scared parent. I remember wondering if my baby would survive, feeling overwhelmed by the machines, and wishing someone would explain what was happening in a way I could understand.
NICU Necessities was created because I never want a family to feel as alone as I once did.
My hope is that this space provides trustworthy education, practical resources, honest conversations, and encouragement for parents navigating the NICU journey. Whether your baby is in the NICU today, you've experienced pregnancy or infant loss, or you're adjusting to life after discharge, I want you to know there is hope, healing, and a community that understands
Lexi is now a healthy teenager who continues to amaze me every day. Cadence remains an important part of our family, and her life continues to inspire this work. Both of my daughters shaped who I am, and because of them, I have the honor of supporting other NICU families every single day.
Thank you for being here. I hope NICU Necessities reminds you that even in the hardest moments, you are never alone.
Even in the hardest moments,
