The 7th was spent doing absolutely nothing because it was damn cold out because of the polar vortex circling around the eastern part of the US giving us record lows and just plain miserable cold weather. Needless to say, I stayed inside. "Polar vortex" never in my life would I like I would say I walked 23 miles in a polar vortex... what a name!
Anyway, so the 7th was a bust, but the 8th was a good day. I got to Athens regional hospital at 9 AM and had a quick interview with the paper before being taken to the NICU to see the babies. There were 10 preemies in the unit while I was there, and I left Courage Tigers with them, and one of my cards with a shoe bead. I learned that with the NICU program, the beads mean everything to the parents. It connects them with their baby when they have to be at work all day; they get to come to the hospital and get the beads for the day, and string them up. It gives the parents an appreciation for what their child had gone through that day. As well as a great tangible record, so when their child is older, they can look at his or her beads and know what all they endured the few weeks/months of his or her life. Apparently, one baby that was just four months old had recently left the hospital with a strand of beads that stretched 22 FEET long! (That right there is why you should donate to this amazing program!)
The ladies there were wonderful, very interested in my Walk and even bought me lunch at Ike and Jane's. I had egg, cheese and sausage on a biscuit, as well as a doughnut with peanut butter, banana and bacon on it!!! It was so good! I was planning on walking to Watkinsville today, but realized that if I did that, it would put me too far a head of schedule... I know that sounds weird, but I need to be kinda close to Madison so I can get a car rental for Atlanta next week. So instead I walked back to Jim's house and cleaned up, and he came home to pick me up to take me downtown so I could have a look around. I ate some cookies and met some wonderful ladies in a shop called Flirt. I talked with them for a bit and then headed over to where Jim works to meet some of his coworkers.
For dinner we went to Mellow Mushroom and then grocery shopping! All-in-all a very good day. And I'm super excited for Friday when I will be visiting another NICU unit in Lawrenceville.
Anyway, so the 7th was a bust, but the 8th was a good day. I got to Athens regional hospital at 9 AM and had a quick interview with the paper before being taken to the NICU to see the babies. There were 10 preemies in the unit while I was there, and I left Courage Tigers with them, and one of my cards with a shoe bead. I learned that with the NICU program, the beads mean everything to the parents. It connects them with their baby when they have to be at work all day; they get to come to the hospital and get the beads for the day, and string them up. It gives the parents an appreciation for what their child had gone through that day. As well as a great tangible record, so when their child is older, they can look at his or her beads and know what all they endured the few weeks/months of his or her life. Apparently, one baby that was just four months old had recently left the hospital with a strand of beads that stretched 22 FEET long! (That right there is why you should donate to this amazing program!)
The ladies there were wonderful, very interested in my Walk and even bought me lunch at Ike and Jane's. I had egg, cheese and sausage on a biscuit, as well as a doughnut with peanut butter, banana and bacon on it!!! It was so good! I was planning on walking to Watkinsville today, but realized that if I did that, it would put me too far a head of schedule... I know that sounds weird, but I need to be kinda close to Madison so I can get a car rental for Atlanta next week. So instead I walked back to Jim's house and cleaned up, and he came home to pick me up to take me downtown so I could have a look around. I ate some cookies and met some wonderful ladies in a shop called Flirt. I talked with them for a bit and then headed over to where Jim works to meet some of his coworkers.
For dinner we went to Mellow Mushroom and then grocery shopping! All-in-all a very good day. And I'm super excited for Friday when I will be visiting another NICU unit in Lawrenceville.
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