"Can You Invite Her In?" — A NICU Story: Healing & Advocacy [REPOST] (262)- Tanisha's Story

“I was pumping in the NICU, feeling completely disconnected—and my husband looked at me and said, ‘Can you invite her in?’ That moment changed everything. A nurse handed me a swab, I gave my baby colostrum for the first time, and I thought, ‘I’m a mommy.’” – Tanisha

NICU mom and advocate Tanisha shares her deeply moving journey through an unexpected fetal diagnosis, a 157-day NICU stay, and the powerful moments that helped her reconnect with motherhood. Diagnosed at 20 weeks with Lower Urinary Tract Obstruction (LUTO)—a rare, life-threatening condition—Tanisha’s son Jaleel faced impossible odds.

From transferring care to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, navigating in-utero surgery, to forming a life-saving care team that included her husband and child life specialists, Tanisha’s voice is a beacon of strength, love, and resilience.

💛 Whether you're a NICU parent, pediatric provider, or anyone seeking a story of courage and connection—this episode is for you.

💛 Tanisha is a member of the Child Life On Call Parent Adivsory Council. Learn more about our members

🔑 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Rare Diagnosis & Brave Decisions: The emotional impact of receiving a LUTO diagnosis at 20 weeks.

• Choosing Hope: Why Tanisha traveled to Cincinnati for specialized in-utero care.

• The NICU Rollercoaster: The grief, disconnection, and eventual empowerment she found during her son's 157-day stay.

• The Power of Support: How a nurse’s gesture and her husband’s quiet advocacy brought her back to herself.

• Creating Community: The birth of Medical Moms of NICU, a thriving support space for NICU moms everywhere.

🕰️ Episode Highlights & Timestamps

[00:01] Meet Tanisha
Introductions and the early motherhood journey with three kids, including a medically complex son.

[06:00] The LUTO Diagnosis
Processing a devastating and rare prenatal diagnosis—and the impossible choices that followed.

[13:00] Choosing Cincinnati Children’s
Why hearing “Cincinnati” changed everything and led to life-saving care.

[23:00] The Turning Point in the NICU
A swab, a nurse’s guidance, and a husband’s quiet wisdom helped Tanisha reclaim motherhood.

[30:00] Support Systems in Action
How child life specialists and her “Daddy Doula” partner brought healing and hope.

[38:00] Post-NICU Life
Dialysis at home, G-tubes, and transforming their house into a place of healing—not a hospital.

[44:00] A Mission to Uplift NICU Moms
Founding Medical Moms of NICU to provide the community she once longed for.

[47:00] Meet Jaleel