Meet Laura Barrett, BSN, RN
Nurse in Our NICU
In late April 1999, Michelle Barrett arrived at a hospital in southern Maryland ready to welcome her second daughter into the world. Due to complications in her pregnancy, Michelle and the care team opted for a caesarian section. Following the surgery, Michelle recalls seeing her newborn child for the first time – and the concern she felt shortly after.
“I remember she looked blue… I remember thinking wow, that does not look right.”
They took Michelle into the recovery room, and the team explained that her daughter was having trouble oxygenating, and she needed more care than they were able to provide. They called Children’s National Hospital to transfer her to their NICU. Michelle, who was still recovering and unable to leave her bed, remembers watching the Children’s National helicopter land right outside her window, and saying goodbye to her child, who she named Laura, before they took her to Washington, D.C.
One of the next moments Michelle remembers is receiving a phone call. At the other end was Billie Lou Short, MD, a neonatologist who helped start the Extracorporeal Life Support (ECMO) Program at Children’s National.
“She called me at the hospital and was telling me that Laura wasn't oxygenating, even on 100% oxygen, and they were very concerned. She was preparing her for the ECMO procedure,” explained Michelle. During their conversation, Dr. Short began asking Michelle some questions. She responded to each one, recounting the exact details of her pregnancy. Then, Dr. Short replied: ‘I'm going to try one more thing. And if it doesn't work, then we have to do the surgery.’”
Just as surgery prep was underway, Dr. Short administered a surfactant to Laura while she was intubated, which was a substance designed to promote the development of the lungs in premature infants. It proved to be effective.
“My husband said the surgeons were scrubbed in, standing there waiting like it was going to happen… it was that close,” said Michelle, “but because she called me and we had that conversation, it did not happen.” Laura remained at Children’s National for two weeks, then Michelle got to take her home.
In September 2023, Laura returned to our organization, 24 years after she was an infant here in our NICU. This time around, she’s facilitating care instead of receiving it, working on the Children’s National NICU team as a nurse.
“It’s such an honor,” Laura beams, describing the surreal feeling of working in the same place that saved her life years ago. She says her connection with the organization has also affected her approach with families. “I have a deeper understanding for a lot of the parents.” She also says showing compassion to families is important to her, because what her mom and dad remember the most about their experience was the kindness of the care team.
Though Children’s National has seen many updates in the past 20 years, Laura was thrilled to learn that some of the same faces are still walking the halls – including Dr. Short.
“As soon as Laura told me that she was still there, I was like, ‘I need to write her a note!’” said Michelle. In the note, Michelle explained how her daughter was a patient of hers 24 years ago, and how their phone conversation led to her daughter’s speedy recovery. She wrote, “I just felt like I needed to thank you because I am very grateful.” She handed her daughter the letter to deliver to Dr. Short personally.
One day, while Dr. Short was rounding, Laura was able to catch her during a quick break.
“I had my mom's letter, I walked up to her, and I said, ‘Hi, I was a patient here 24 years ago and you saved my life!” Laura laughs, recalling the moment she passed along her mom’s note. She says Dr. Short was touched and emailed her mom a response.
Even months after the interaction, Laura is still in awe that she gets to work where her life was saved.
“I feel like I owe it to Children's National to help more babies like me.”
“I remember she looked blue… I remember thinking wow, that does not look right.”
They took Michelle into the recovery room, and the team explained that her daughter was having trouble oxygenating, and she needed more care than they were able to provide. They called Children’s National Hospital to transfer her to their NICU. Michelle, who was still recovering and unable to leave her bed, remembers watching the Children’s National helicopter land right outside her window, and saying goodbye to her child, who she named Laura, before they took her to Washington, D.C. One of the next moments Michelle remembers is receiving a phone call. At the other end was Billie Lou Short, MD, a neonatologist who helped start the Extracorporeal Life Support (ECMO) Program at Children’s National.
“She called me at the hospital and was telling me that Laura wasn't oxygenating, even on 100% oxygen, and they were very concerned. She was preparing her for the ECMO procedure,” explained Michelle. During their conversation, Dr. Short began asking Michelle some questions. She responded to each one, recounting the exact details of her pregnancy. Then, Dr. Short replied: ‘I'm going to try one more thing. And if it doesn't work, then we have to do the surgery.’”
Just as surgery prep was underway, Dr. Short administered a surfactant to Laura while she was intubated, which was a substance designed to promote the development of the lungs in premature infants. It proved to be effective.
“My husband said the surgeons were scrubbed in, standing there waiting like it was going to happen… it was that close,” said Michelle, “but because she called me and we had that conversation, it did not happen.” Laura remained at Children’s National for two weeks, then Michelle got to take her home.
In September 2023, Laura returned to our organization, 24 years after she was an infant here in our NICU. This time around, she’s facilitating care instead of receiving it, working on the Children’s National NICU team as a nurse.
“It’s such an honor,” Laura beams, describing the surreal feeling of working in the same place that saved her life years ago. She says her connection with the organization has also affected her approach with families. “I have a deeper understanding for a lot of the parents.” She also says showing compassion to families is important to her, because what her mom and dad remember the most about their experience was the kindness of the care team.
Though Children’s National has seen many updates in the past 20 years, Laura was thrilled to learn that some of the same faces are still walking the halls – including Dr. Short.
“As soon as Laura told me that she was still there, I was like, ‘I need to write her a note!’” said Michelle. In the note, Michelle explained how her daughter was a patient of hers 24 years ago, and how their phone conversation led to her daughter’s speedy recovery. She wrote, “I just felt like I needed to thank you because I am very grateful.” She handed her daughter the letter to deliver to Dr. Short personally.
One day, while Dr. Short was rounding, Laura was able to catch her during a quick break.
“I had my mom's letter, I walked up to her, and I said, ‘Hi, I was a patient here 24 years ago and you saved my life!” Laura laughs, recalling the moment she passed along her mom’s note. She says Dr. Short was touched and emailed her mom a response.
Even months after the interaction, Laura is still in awe that she gets to work where her life was saved.
“I feel like I owe it to Children's National to help more babies like me.”