CASSIE PROVIDES COMFORT AND SUPPORT TO TINY BABIES’ FAMILIES

Words by Jodie Tweed | Photography by Scott Thuen of Thuen Studios

Deep in her heart, Cassie Skalicky knows she is doing exactly what God intended her to do. Still, there are days when she leaves the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Essentia Health-Fargo in tears.

As the NICU family support specialist, Skalicky provides comfort, support and education to parents whose babies are born prematurely or experiencing a health crisis. Not so long ago, she and her husband, Jason, walked in their shoes.

Early on New Year’s Day in 2010, Skalicky gave birth to twins four months early. Natalie and Andrew were FargoMoorhead’s first babies of 2010.

Skalicky had experienced complications about 16 weeks into her pregnancy and was hospitalized for bed rest after Christmas in 2009. While doctors did everything they could, they were unable to stop the contractions. Andrew and Natalie were born at 23 weeks, three days -- right on the edge of viability. Natalie died 111/2 hours later. Andrew, who weighed 1 pound, 3 ounces, spent 138 days in the hospital. He came home on May 18, three weeks after the April 27 due date.

Andrew’s occupational therapist told Skalicky about the part-time NICU job funded by Essentia Health and the March of Dimes. Essentia Health-Fargo is the only hospital in North Dakota that offers the program.

Skalicky is not a medical professional or social worker. Instead she provides NICU parents with educational information from the March of Dimes. She discusses the benefits of skin-to-skin care and lets them know what they can expect both in the NICU and when they bring their baby home. She also visits mothers hospitalized for bed rest and offers them a journal and something to do for their baby, like making a tie blanket.

Most of all, her job is to listen. She’s a hug and a shoulder to cry on. She’s there to celebrate the many good things that occur in the NICU. She helps honor parents on holidays and birthdays. On Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, parents receive keepsake gifts from their babies. She organizes scrapbooking sessions for parents and holiday craft projects for siblings.

“I’m there to help the families have the best experience possible while they’re in the NICU,” Skalicky explained. “I really encourage families to be as hands-on with their babies as possible. We really support family-centered care.”

Skalicky formed a parents’ club where NICU parents can earn points to win prizes for changing diapers, taking temperatures, giving baths and learning about their child’s diagnosis.

“A NICU is such a daunting place to go into,” Skalicky said. “The babies are so tiny and they have cords and tubes.” NICU Clinical Supervisor Vicki Holtan said parents appreciate Skalicky’s support, and so does her nursing staff.

“Parents just love her. When she’s around, you just feel good,” Holtan said. “Even when things aren’t going well, she’s there to help the situation be the best it can be. I’m so happy to see her when she’s here because I know she’s making connections with our families. She’s as important to our NICU as any of our experienced nurses. She brings that much to the table.”

If a mother miscarries or a baby dies, Skalicky provides support. She often shares her own story and assures them that there is life after the pain.

“Moms and dads always ask me if the pain ever goes away,” Skalicky said. “No, there are days that are terrible. But there is life all around me. There are times when I’ve gotten home, broke down and lost it. But God put me in this place for a reason. I really believe that with my whole heart.”

“Cassie has walked every step of the experiences that she’s helping these parents go through,” said Holtan. “She’s learned what it’s like to live through all that, and it makes her the perfect person to support people who are on similar journeys.”

Skalicky hasn’t forgotten what it felt like each night as she left the NICU without Andrew: “It’s like being dropped in the middle of an ocean and you don’t know what the weather is going to be or if you’re going to make it to shore.”

Andrew had two serious brain bleeds in the NICU. He had part of his intestines removed, minor heart surgery and surgery to save his eyesight.

Now five and headed to kindergarten, Andrew loves to play outside with his friends and pick on his older sister, Grace. “He should not have survived most of the things that happened to him,” Skalicky said. “He’s definitely a miracle, no doubt about it.”