Elizabeth Orsini (in 1995 at left and today at right) received an outpouring of supportive messages via social media in response to her story.

In honor of NICU Awareness Month in September, Elizabeth Orsini, BSN, RN, shared a powerful story on Brigham social media channels about her and her family’s experience in the NICU years ago. Orsini, a nurse in Thoracic Surgery Intermediate Care on Braunwald Tower 11ABD, opened up about the care she received and her decision to become a nurse:

“I have been a nurse for a little over a year now. I started my first job as an RN at Brigham and Women’s Hospital at the end of October 2018, but my journey with the Brigham actually starts much earlier than that.
“In 1995, I was born 10 weeks premature,

weighing in at 3lbs, 2oz. I was one of two. My twin brother, Chad, had passed at 24 weeks gestation. I spent 7 weeks in the Brigham NICU with my parents always at my side. Fortunately, with the intensive care of the NICU and the love and support that my parents gave me, I was eventually healthy and strong enough to be discharged home.

“I always knew I wanted to become a nurse, mostly because of my twin brother. I believe that he is still with me in some way, and I feel as though I’m giving back and paying tribute to someone that I never had the chance to meet.

“It’s a surreal feeling to now work in the same place that ultimately saved my life. I remember walking through the doors of the hospital entrance on my first day of orientation thinking, ‘Wow, I really made it.’ Now, almost a year later, I can’t wait to see how my story continues.”

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