Our Stories

My name is Kelsey Murphy.

In December of 2019, I woke up during the night and noticed the baby was not moving. Upon calling my Physician I was told to come into the office.

Upon arrival and observation, I was sent to the hospital and prepped for an emergency cesarean birth. I gave birth to our daughter Leah at 36 weeks. She had to be resuscitated. It was an absolutely terrifying experience.

Since our hospital did not have a Level 1 NICU, my husband and I had to decide whether to transfer our daughter to Washington’s Children Hospital or Johns Hopkins Hospital so she could get the appropriate treatment.

I can remember as we prepared for her to be transferred to Johns Hopkins, I received a Wyatt’s Warrior bag. It meant so much to have people who knew what we were feeling, supporting us and showing us we were not alone.

While at Johns Hopkins, Leah was diagnosed with HIE due to lack of oxygen. We spent three weeks in the NICU. During that time we received an incredibly generous donation from Wyatt’s Warriors to cover various costs during our stay. I was also speaking with a friend who came up to visit who, at the time, was a board member for Wyatt’s Warriors.

At that time we were preparing for Leah to go home and I mentioned how worried I was for Leah. I told my friend that I wanted to purchase an Owlet monitor so we would know Leah’s oxygen levels and heart rate at night.

My wonderful friend immediately made a phone call to Jen Shipe who sent an Owlet to our house. It was waiting for us when we got home.

The gift from Wyatt’s Warriors gave us such peace of mind and I can truly never thank Wyatt’s Warriors and Jen enough for that. This organization is so incredible and has impacted so many lives.

I’m grateful that they were apart of our journey and know they will continue to do amazing things in Wyatt’s memory.

Personally, I have not had any front row experience with infant loss. So, you may say “what is my connection?” Professionally, and sadly, I have had enough of these experiences to last a life time.

And yet, as impacting and heart wrenching as they are, none of these experiences come close to the inescapable grief and heartache of the families under my care.

At the end of the day, I may go home with a heavy heart…but, they go home with a broken heart, empty arms and the painful silence of lost dreams.

As nurses we are called to fix situations. For so many years, emotionally, this situation felt unfixable and sometimes, regretfully, even uncomfortable.

Over the years, and more specifically over the past nine years, a shift has occurred.

As nurses we have been empowered, educated, supported, unified and strengthened in how we deliver care to those experiencing infant loss. Attending to these patients has become a privilege and exposed a connection that is almost holy.

Friendships have been forged. Connections have been created. Networks have risen from the ashes of these losses.

Two such networks are the STAR program at TidalHealth and Wyatt’s Warriors, a community foundation. WW was born out of one local family’s broken dream. Losing Wyatt lit a fire that grief could not extinguish. This foundation has provided so much to other families that have, sadly, found themselves in similar circumstances.

Both of these programs have opened flood gates of compassion, avenues of grief support, networks of connection and provided a way for staff and patients/families to grieve and heal together.

Wyatt’s Warriors is a testament to the concept of “see a need, fill a need.”

If that resonates with you, reach out to find out where you might find a need to fill.

– Dawn Liechtenstein