43 | Saul's Light - Kimberly Novod
This is a story about loss - In memory of Saul
Throughout her life, Kimberly was told and thought that as long as you strive to do your best good things would happen to you. So she did that, followed the rules, followed the order of things - got an education, fell in love, got married, and then pregnant. In her mind, there was no reason for her to think that this next phase of her life wouldn't go "right." With no early indication, in 2014, Kimberly and Aaron Novod's son, Saul, was born prematurely at twenty-eight weeks and six days. He was whisked to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Initially, they thought he was going to do well and would be bringing their baby home. Yet, baby Saul passed after twenty days in the NICU due to a brain bleed. In that experience, Kimberly realized that there was no "justice"; her previous mindset had shielded her from the mass inequities of the world. There were limitations to medicine, to doctors, to life, and she fell as she describes into the "rabbit hole of grief."
As a way to process through their grief and work on healing, Kimberly and her husband Aaron created Saul's Light. During their time of need, their community surrounded them in love and support, which was an integral part of their healing process. Thus, making it their mission to provide the same outpouring to all NICU and bereaved families. A vital part of the support provided to families is through mobilizing people, organizations, and resources directly from their community. Families are offered social-emotional support through peer and whole group support groups and events. Partnering hospitals have cooling cots that allow families who may lose children to create and have memories with their babies. They also have established patient assistant funds allocated towards parents' need for transportation, food, and other expenses that might arise. Along with educating families, there is education provided to hospital staff about being culturally responsive and preparing them to have end-of-life discussions.
In the sharing of her birth story, Kimberly makes it clear and points that we cannot ignore the disparities that black and brown babies are overrepresented in the NICU and the graveyard. When parents are present for their babies and present in their care, they have better outcomes. Saul's Light allows for families to have that, responsive to the whole experience of NICU and also addressing infant mortality. It is a communal embrace, reminding families that their community cares about them, and they're not alone!
Resources:
Saul’s Light | New Orleans-based nonprofit that provides support and community to families with babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Nicole Diggins CNM, MSN, MPH | midwife and founder/CEO of Sista Midwife Productions