Ella's Smile

Ella is a precious girl. But when I started helping in the Critical Care Unit four weeks ago, I didn't really know how to interact with her. I was so afraid that I would do something wrong or hurt her if I held her the wrong way. I watched as the nannies fed her through her feeding tube and massaged her limbs. After a few days, I started to talk to her and massage her limbs as well. Eventually I got up enough courage to hold her and sing to her. I will never forget the first time I saw her smile. I was singing my favorite song to her and touching her face; all of a sudden she smiled for ten seconds straight. It was like seeing the sun rise after a long dark night. It warmed my heart and was my light for the rest of the day. The next morning, I made a goal to see her smile at least once each day that I spent with her.

Three weeks later, I've been meeting that goal daily! Each morning I hold her and sing to her. As I rock her back and forth and caress her face, she never fails to give me a smile. Some of my favorite moments here at New Day are spent with her; being able to stare into her eyes as she stares back at mine… it's a feeling I will never forget.

Although she can't speak to me, her eyes and smile say it all. All I want is to show her how much I care about her. When I see her eyes widen and look straight into mine, I know she understands what I'm trying to express. And her smile says more than words ever could.

---

This post was written by our intern, Irene