The Homecoming (Pt. 1): Preparing for Home

Send us Fan MailOne of the hardest and most overwhelming moments in having a critically ill child is also the most hoped-for… bringing your baby home for the first time.This first part of our 3-part series is for the parents in that in-between space… still in the ICU, but starting to prepare for the homecoming. Our hope is that this episode helps you feel a little less alone, and a little more confident as you step into that transition.In this conversation, Danielle and I share what it felt like preparing to bring our kids home. We talked through logistics like car seats, medical supply ordering, and in-home nursing, as well as the emotional weight of realizing the hospital safety net won’t be there anymore, and what it actually felt like to become the sole caretaker of your trach and vented child overnight.We also talk about how important the relationships with our nurses became, and how hard it was to leave them, along with the fears we carried and the things no one really prepares you for once you walk through your front door.We open up about the reality of suddenly being responsible for every alarm, every tube, every breath, our first emergency moments at home, and what helped us build confidence in those early days.As Alison shares in this episode: “It’s the start of your life really. All that darkness and terrible stuff that happened in the hospital, you can leave behind. There are much, much better days at home.”Because “going home” sounds like the finish line, but for so many of us, it’s just the beginning of learning a whole new way to live, love, and care.In Part 2, we’ll be sharing what the actual day of coming home looked like — the emotions, logistics, and everything that came with that moment.