Nurse Connects with First Preemie Patient at Wedding

I have a story I wanted to share with you that has touched my life and shaped my nursing career. It all started in the NICU at Strong Memorial Hospital in 1985.

I was a new graduate from Syracuse University in 1985 and took my first job in the NICU at Strong...I came to work the morning of Sept. 4, 1985, to find a little girl was born the night before at 24 weeks gestation. She was 680 grams and I think her eyes may have still been fused. We practiced primary nursing at the time and even though I was scared to death, I put my name down to be her primary nurse. Her name was Alisha Heaton. Little did I know how much that little tiny baby would impact my life and nursing career.

Alisha had every problem a 24-week preemie could possibly have and more...She had suffered spontaneous intestinal perforation and perforated her bowels. She was gravely ill...

I took care of Alisha every day in the NICU and became close to her family...Slowly Alisha became stronger and after many attempts to try and get her off the ventilator, she did it. She was moved from nursery A to nursery B and finally to nursery C where the "gainer and growers" were cared for.

On Dec. 24, Alisha was discharged...I continued to keep in contact with the Heatons although they lived an hour away. I went to Alisha's birthday celebrations and visited when I could. In 1987, I left Strong and New York state to become a traveling nurse. We managed to stay in touch but contact was less frequent with everyone's busy lives. I would get a letter occasionally but eventually our correspondences faded and we lost touch. I was a traveling nurse in different NICU's around the country (became very clear to me that Strong was the cream of the crop!)...

In 2006, I was at work and had just taken care of an extreme preemie and could not get thoughts of Alisha out of my head. I went to the computer and tried to find her. Something made me want to get in touch with her right there and then. I had no luck finding Alisha, but did find her mother Brenda. I picked up the phone right there at work and left a message.

I got home from work that day to find a return message from Brenda who was very excited to hear from me. I called her back and she told me that she could not believe I had called her that day! She said she had been looking and looking for me the last two weeks and had had no success finding me...The reason Brenda wanted to contact me was because Alisha was getting married and she wanted me to be a surprise at Alisha's wedding!

On June 10, 2006, I went to upstate N.Y. and attended Alisha Heaton's wedding. They made me feel like a guest of honor...I was seated with the bride's grandparents and was able to watch the miracle baby get married. I can't even describe the emotions I was feeling.

Now, Alisha and I keep in touch more often and she is actually my friend on Facebook! Who would have ever thought! Alisha Heaton is now Alisha Eveland. She is tall, beautiful and healthy! She is attending Marion S. Whelan School of Practical Nursing in Geneva, NY. Eventually, when she can afford to, she would like to continue on for her Baccalaureate degree and become a NICU nurse!

I wanted to share this story of one of Golisano Children's Hospital's nurses and one of their super strong, miracle patients. It just seems like the hospital should know about these happy stories. I have been a nurse for 25 years now (17 years in critical care) and because of my very first patient, I believe anything is possible. Alisha is truly a miracle.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth (Fine) Porter, R.N.