For eight years, Kirsten Galloway worked night shifts as a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse, caring for premature and critically ill newborns and supporting the families facing the challenges of having a baby in intensive care.

During those years, she noticed that the experience extended beyond the baby and parents. Older brothers and sisters also faced uncertainty, confusion and feelings of being left out while their new sibling remained in the hospital.

“When a baby is in the NICU, the whole family is too,” Galloway wrote. “Big brothers and sisters are often confused, scared or quietly left out, so I make gentle books that help NICU siblings understand the beeping machines, the tiny beds, and why Mom and Dad are at the hospital so much.”

Her experience inspired her to create children’s books that help young siblings understand what happens in the NICU and feel included during a difficult time for their families.

Her book, Once Upon a NICU, is a picture book told from the perspective of a baby named Lily. The story introduces children to the NICU environment and helps explain the equipment, hospital routines and experiences that may seem frightening or unfamiliar. The book is available in editions for big brothers and big sisters.

Galloway’s work reflects an understanding that a NICU stay affects an entire family, including children who may be too young to understand why their new brother or sister cannot come home.

Through stories and illustrations, she hopes to help those children understand their sibling’s hospital experience and feel that they remain an important part of the family.

Her books are available through Amazon and Clover Cottage Co.

Book: Once Upon a NICU

Author: Kirsten Galloway

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HQBRL5C4