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Counting blessings There is a place in this holy city of ours where you would never choose to take a loved one, but if necessity takes you there you will be surrounded by an unexpected sense of dedication and concern. The place is the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Medical University of South Carolina. The doctors and nurses there are the most loving and caring people you will ever meet. They love and care for tiny infants they do not even know and even more amazing, they love and care for the families of those infants. One goes to the NICU in times of trauma—usually birth trauma. There is nothing so traumatic to a new parent as to hear the words, “We need to transfer your baby to MUSC.” At that point, a tiny infant is transported across the city (or state) to a huge university hospital where one expects to get lost in the shuffle. Not so. You expect to find a facility equipped with the latest in technology and treatment techniques. And you do. But there is ever so much more. The professionalism and competency of the staff is immediately apparent, but even more readily apparent is the care and concern of every person in the unit. Each doctor and nurse has time for the distraught family members. Despite the fact that they have heard the same questions hundreds of times they respond as if it were the first time. They are encouraging, supportive, and excited about each small step of improvement. They know what they are doing and do not forget the human side of medicine. At this special time of the year when we count our many blessings, my hat is off to the doctors, nurses, and support staff at the NICU, as well as to the wonderful doctors and nurses at St. Francis and Roper who get these babies to the right place for the extra help they need. On behalf of Baby Caroline Willis and the thousands of families whom you have helped and given of yourselves so unselfishly, I thank you. Bernie Hood A grateful grandmother Editor's note: The above ran Nov. 28 in the Letter to the Editor of the Post and Courier and is reprinted with permission.  Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.