Through everything I had learned in school, I had no idea how time could stop when you witness the death of a loved one and how that compares to watching a new baby take air for the first time. All I know is that both seem to stop time and throw you into the present moment like no other.
Holding my grandmother’s hand through the years and when she took her last breath, I promised myself I would leave a legacy full of the love and hope she ingrained in me. I would become a nurse and I wouldn’t stop until I fulfilled my dreams and helped others see their true potential.
I knew I would create a nursing practice dedicated to helping integrate health and wellness into all aspects of life, but I didn’t know when and I didn’t know how. So, I took one day at a time which turned into years of planning, life-long learning and the will within to never give up.
After applying to nursing school four times and two degrees later, I got my dream job as a neonatal nurse and was thrown into deliveries to help with resuscitation and to perform the role of “catching baby”. I learned invaluable skills and felt honored to share a precious glimpse of life with the families I served. I noticed that every family and footprint was truly unique. It’s hard to even describe the miracles I witnessed such as a new baby taking air for the first time, the laboring mom finishing one of the hardest jobs in her life and the new dad’s tears of joy.
I would later work in the areas of newborn nursery, neonatal intensive care, lactation support and as a maternal/neonatal outreach coordinator and perinatal educator at a Baby Friendly designated hospital teaching childbirth education, baby care and breastfeeding to expectant families. You know I didn’t stop there and I continued to pursue wellness and became certified in lactation, Lamaze and yoga with a specialty in pre/postnatal practices.
As you can see, the creation of Unique Footprints was fueled by a collection of stories, which encompassed all the people that allowed me the chance to witness the beauty of life. To my grandmother, who opened my eyes and to every family that I worked with that have shown me the human potential within each one of us…STRENGTH, LOVE & THE WILL WITHIN TO NEVER GIVE UP!
