Families Healing Together and Giving Back - Bricen & Ila

Bricen Urquidi is a stay at home mom of 3 kids. She has been involved with ICU baby (a local nonprofit in Miami that is very near and dear to us at NICU Alumni) for over 8 years and is a volunteer at her children's school and other organizations in Miami. Her NICU journey began with her first born Ila and that experience lead to helping others in need. 

Ila is a 9th grader at a local school in Miami and is a Youth Ambassador with ICU baby. Ila started a club at school called Faith4NICU where they provide support for different NICU organizations in Miami. 

Quick Takeaways from the Episode:

• Even though time has passed, the memories and emotions never leave
• Bricen remembers having mixed emotions: you have a baby, so you’re happy, but you’re in the NICU, so you’re confused and scared.
• While you’re in the NICU you can feel so supported but then feel lost when you get home
• Things that helped Bricen feel prepared
  • Family Support 
  • Being hands on in the NICU so that the routine becomes familiar when it’s time to go home
  • Realizing that every day things did get a little bit better

Ways to help you keep track of those appointments 

• Follow up appointments are a big part of life after the NICU
• Use your calendar or a notebook to help you keep track of the doctor visits and follow up notes

Bricen’s recommendations for after the NICU

• Positivity helps when you are dealing with the hard situation of the NICU. Your baby needs you. Take in any support you can.
• Cry when you need to. Scream when you need to. Go out on a walk when you need to.
• Lean on your family and friends. Be willing to take on that outside support.
• It’s an ongoing journey. Check in with how you’re feeling emotionally, and work through it when you can.
• The NICU experience is hard, there is pain, but there is healing that continues through the process
• It may feel daunting but remember you’re not alone.
• Bricen shared the sweetest quote: “It's the tiniest feet that make the biggest footprints in our hearts”

Let's stay in touch!

You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and our website, www.nicualumni.org.

A special thanks to the Prolacta Bioscience Foundation for supporting the NICU Alumni podcast!

You can also support our mission and help create brighter futures for babies that have graduated from the NICU (who we affectionately refer to as NICU Alumni) and their families by donating here.

The purpose of this podcast is for entertainment only and should not be viewed as medical advice.