Consults:
You have no idea how hard it is to ask permission to hold your child, or need physical assistance to even get her out of the ugly metal crib! Thanks for making that mom's day!
I'm a nurse...I find it very sad that they even needed to call a doctor to answer that question! But I am thankful that you were the one who got the call. Instinct will often serve you and your pt's well! Keep up the good work!
Irene
Danielle, I'm continually amazed at how one can say so much in so few words. Your writing is fantastic and I can only hope that if my daughter ever needs special care, we'll be lucky enough to get a doctor like you.
Amazing. So thankful you were there instead of that warm bed. And, I'm glad that baby is not crying. I'm sure the mom has more than enough tears for the baby.
Your post reminded me of the song by Natalie Grant, Held.
That poor, poor baby.
(This is one of your bests posts yet)
For your babies and kids with any cns problems especially in the cranium, go to Upledger Institute for info on cranial sacral therapists in your area esp. those specialzing in peds.
Love you
thank you for that.
wow...good for you, dammit!
As an Early Interventonist, I often serve children after they are released from the NICU. Parents frequently share the time they were first able to hold their child. Your kind order will not be forgotten by this mom!
Like others, I am sure, I found your blog through the one and only Los.
Tonight, you made me tear up. As soon as I hit "publish" I am going to kiss my own little angels as they sleep... without crying... in their beds.
And maybe... just maybe... I'll get one of them out just to hold her.
Thanks for sharing.
I am one of your silent "fans" and this is my first post because I can remain silent no more. You are truly amazing. You have a God-given gift of compassion that I suspect will affect for good the lives of hundreds or hopefully thousands of children and parents. May you live a long life, and may you be blessed with the health and energy to fulfill your dream to help the most helpless of our Father's children on this earth.
The story of what happened to that child has me shaking and my eye twitching with anger. I don't know how you do your job, but bless you - and thank you - for doing it.
This was a really beautiful post Danielle.
*sniff* bless ye.
You make me cry, Danielle. Joy, compassion, fury, frustration... All seasons, you just have a way of cutting right to the bone. (That's GOOD!)
On the occasions that I have not been able to hold my daughter for medical reasons, I felt like part of me had been torn away, like I was letting her down, like I was failing her by not being able to scoop her up and keep all the white coats away. I've never had to put up with it for more than 2 days. I can't imagine what that mom went through, or how much your from-the-heart doctoring meant to her.
Good call. 2 weeks in and you are making perception calls. I take joy for the children you will care for in your career.
L
Bravo! After J's first surgery I had to wait a week to hold him. It was torture. I think we both relaxed a little when I finally got to hold him amongst all the tubes and wires (until he had a seizure while I was holding him, but that's another story.) Pretty much didn't lay him down for the next 7 months.
Not getting to hold your child in the hospital is the most torturous part of having a child in the hospital. I can't even begin to imagine what this mother must have felt. Her beautiful daughter. I'm crying again just typing this comment.
Thank you for being you. Amazing.
This is where the REAL healing begins for that child and that mother. You might not think so but you changed a life.
I have nothing to say that others haven't already said, but that was truly heartbreaking and wonderfully written.
What a wonderful gift you gave to that mom and her child.
{sniffle}
The medical profession will be better for having people like you in it. Thanks for helping that mom.
Dear Lord, that poor little girl!!! 
I'm wiping the tears away right now...
Med school == BIG $$$$
Iternship == late nights, mucho coffee
Writing that prescription? PRICELESS
Thank you for having and showing compassion 
When my daughter was in the NICU after she was born and I heard her cry and they wouldn't let me hold her it tore me up. I just couldn't understand (and still can't)the logic behind how it couldn't help her.
Thankfully the next morning the Neurologist sided with me and I was able to hold her when she cried. Which made her get better quicker! Thank goodness for good doctors.
Well, I'm crying. I have two kids of my own and my heart breaks for that little girl and her Mom. What you gave the both of them goes beyond description. They were lucky to have you.
In tears after this post.
Hard to not get angry after reading what the babysitter did to that innocent little child.
-your best post yet-
Mercy. God bless you for your compassion and that poor child so she heals fully.
to re-learn all the 2 year old skills that had been beaten out of her.
Wow. How horrible.
As a nurse and a mom I'm crossing my fingers that you keep this amazing compassion you have! Now, really tho, are'nt you too tired to be blogging!
I'm so glad you were on duty.
Even though I understand sometimes it's better to not hold them with all the tubes etc, sometimes a baby just needs her momma's arms to make it better.
Wow, just wow. This job is going to be filled with moments like this and it seems you are more than up to the task. Beautiful post Danielle.
Well, I suppose that I can no longer poke fun at you. 
You have truly, truly arrived, my dear niece.
Dr. Niece
_____
I have read this post 3 times now. All I can say is that is probably one of your best posts thus far. Love you. Miss you.
as a teacher of children with special needs, your story especially touched my heart. there is nothing more that that child needed than to be held by loving hands.
This Mom loves you!
When I read "And the baby. wasn't. crying.", I was afraid for just a split second that you were going to say that the baby had died. Thank goodness that wasn't the case.
Awwww...
Bless you for your compassion.
That poor baby! That poor mom! How can anyone do that? I mean, shaking a child is horrible enough but the rest of it... it just makes me so angry and sad. It just seems inhuman.
I hope that babysitter is never allowed to be near children again. I hope s/he gets put away for a long time, and comes to understand, really understand, the full horror of just what s/he has done.
It was hard not to cry at work over this one - thank you for working to heal not only this precious child of God, but her mommy too.
As someone who attempts to put the emotional pieces back together for these kids through play therapy, this story brought a smile and some hope. It's amazing how simple the cure can be sometimes.
I'm glad the baby got to be held by her mama. She's not crying anymore... but I sure am after reading that. If my son was with me right now, I'd be holding him.
Isn't this the same reason why certified volunteers sit with babies in the nursery? Get well faster!
Beautiful post.
Wiping away tears. Again.
breaking my heart... i couldn't hold lily for 2 days after her brain surgery and it was agonizing.
that was the emptiest my arms have ever felt.
Good on you!!
Stories like this are exactly why I am so reluctant to leave my children with a sitter. Thank God for good friends and sitting swaps, otherwise my hubby and I wouldn't have been on a date night in 3+ years! Awesome story. I can't imagine being told I cannot hold my child. I'm sorry for all of those here that have been told that.
Incredibly poignant.
Thanks for sharing.
heart wrenching. Definitely the best order you wrote that day.
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