Silver Cross Respiratory Therapist Brightens the World for NICU Families
Michelle Walsh, a respiratory therapist at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, proudly displays the Rock Star Award she received for bringing happiness and joy to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit babies and their families .
Many Silver Cross NICU graduates go home in this special onesie created and donated by Michelle Walsh, a respiratory therapist at the hospital.
Since she was a youngster, Michelle Walsh, RRT, knew a career in the medical field was in her future. Years later, training as a respiratory therapist, she fell in love with working with young children.
And while she loved the work she was doing in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at a Chicago hospital, Walsh wished she could be closer to home.
All three ultimately came together when she was hired at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, a few years before the Amy, Matthew and Jay Vana Neonatal Intensive Care Unit opened in July 2022.
A Real Rock Star
To brighten the stressful lives of parents and siblings of babies in the NICU, Walsh recently received a Rock Star Award following a nomination by her supervisor – Traci Wolfe, Silver Cross Manager of NICU Respiratory Care. Three employees are chosen monthly for the award, and since its debut in 2022, more than 100 employees across a multitude departments have earned one.
“When the Silver Cross NICU opened, Michelle noticed that there was an opportunity to support that ‘normal’ play and comforting environment. Through her own research, she found the Starlight Children’s Foundation , which provides toys at no cost. Through this program she obtained a wide variety of items and distributed those to not just the NICU patients and their siblings, but also to the pediatrics floor, E.R. and outpatient area.
“Michelle organizes, creates and donates items to the NICU. She raises funds by selling clothes online, then uses those funds on craft supplies. As an example, she creates ‘going home’ onesies for NICU graduates.
“Michelle cares so much about the patients that we treat and their families. She goes above and beyond trying to create a little bit of happiness and joy during a challenging time for families. Michelle is truly a special person, and we are so fortunate that she chooses to be a part of our team!”
Walsh, however, believes she is the lucky one.
“I love working with babies and their families, and at Silver Cross, I’m five minutes from home. I love going to work. And I love the people I work with.”
That includes Barb DuPlantis and Amanda Caso, whom Walsh said put a lot of their own time and money in to make the gifts.
Making a Difference
At her previous job, Walsh saw how little things can make so much difference to the families. A crafter armed with a Cricut machine, she has made various holiday-themed crafts to brighten the rooms of the NICU babies.
“For Valentine’s Day, I made hearts with imprints of their babies’ feet,” she said. “Parents walked into the room and couldn’t believe the decorations.
“Our committee also made Christmas ornaments with ribbons cut to the length of their babies. They can take them home and pull them out each holiday and show their children how small they were when they were born.
“Most of the free toys I have received through Starlight Children’s Foundation are too large for the babies. But you should see the faces of their siblings when I tell them I have something for them.
“And the parents are so grateful the siblings are getting some positive attention at a time when so much is focused on the babies.”
While she and another therapist initially coordinated the crafts and toys, Walsh said there is now a committee that discusses different ways to brighten other areas of the hospital for patients and visitors.
“But making the ‘onesies’ for babies leaving the NICU started it all. Since they’re graduating, I roll them up like a diploma and put them in a gift bag for the parents with other little items.
“I am so surprised how many parents put the onesies on their babies when they leave the hospital. I would think they would have a special outfit picked out. But this is so gratifying! I’m very honored they chose the outfit I gave them.”
Walsh also was honored and gratified when she learned she had been chosen as a Silver Cross Rock Star.
“Oh, my gosh! I was in shock. And, of course, I started crying. I couldn’t do any of this without the ladies on the committee, my ‘partners in crime.’
“I am so thankful to be able to work at Silver Cross with these special babies and their families.”
To learn more about Silver Cross Hospital, visit silvercross.org .
