Posted by Lieutenant Tandra Mika (Chief Mental Health Officer) in Sacred Heart Hospital- Comfort for the Small Ones

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Sharah Fayth (Chief Star Fleet Medical Officer) in Sacred Heart Hospital- Comfort for the Small Ones

Posted by Captain Eela Dasca (Lt. Governor) in Sacred Heart Hospital- Comfort for the Small Ones
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Eela ran her hands over the cream coloured soft jersey cardigan, smoothing invisible wrinkles. Mostly she was a tiny bit nervous, not just because she hoped a family would be okay with her, but because she knew this would bring up a lot of memories. But they weren’t all bad. There had been some poignant moment with her premature son that she wouldn’t trade for anything, even if her life at the time had been an utter mess.

Moving through the hospital to the NICU, Eela was dressed more casually with her favoured stretchy black pants and a simple blue t-shirt. Babies could get messy at times and she wasn’t afraid of that. But she also was keenly aware of making sure everything she wore wouldn’t introduce potential allergens. Even her hair was pulled back into a tidy french braid, a far more serious style than people were used to seeing from her.

Approaching the nurses station, she gave the nurse on duty a wam smile. “Hello, I’m here as a volunteer. I was told to check in here first? And someone is meeting me here as well.” Mika worked at the hospital a lot, so she suspected that despite her technically being off-duty, she was somewhere around and would be here in due course.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

The nurse smiled. “Of course Ms. Dasca. If you will step into the antiseptic entry and change into scrubs.”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

“Of course,” Eela said, moving through the entry. She found the change area and a pair of scrubs her size and went to change. She came out looking at ease, or as at ease as she could. Spying Mika, she smiled.

Mika was at the hospital. Séan walked her down from the psych floor and left her at the check in desk, before returning to his own duties. Mika smiled at Eela when she saw the lieutenant governor. “Eela, it’s good to see you.”

“Hello, Mika,” Eela said.

She smiled at the nurse. “Nurse Hartwell. I’m just here to accompany Eela while she volunteers.” She stepped up to the nurse, already in scrubs (she must have changed in her office?) and signed in as a visitor to the NICU. Normally, still possessing medical credentials, she would have free access, but while off duty, she was a visitor.

~ Mika, CMHO

“Is there anything else you need me to do before I meet the family?” Eela asked.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.

The nurse smiled, “No. Just head to the family room down the hall on the left. There is a sign.”

Lt. Cmdr. Fayth, SFCMO

Mika smiled. “Thanks.” She turned to Eela, “You ready?”

~ Mika, CMHO

Eela nodded as she drew in a steadying breath. She wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from here, since this was a new experience for her. She hadn’t had this as a parent of a preemie. She had been on a starship and just was there all the time. It wasn’t like she had anywhere else to be, and there was always someone else around when she needed a break. And yet, as she walked to the family room, there was a strange feeling that swept over her, as if she might be having this experience as a parent all over again, even though the setting was entirely different.

Still, as she and Mika arrived at the family room, she pushed away the odd sensations and letting calm sweep over her as she stepped in to meet the family.

~Eela Dasca, Lt. Gov.