After her baby boy, Corbin, arrived eight weeks early and in serious condition, Robin Geiger entered the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Marshfield Children’s Hospital as a mother desperate for answers, reassurance and hope.
She left with a new sense of purpose.
Inspired by the compassion and skill of the NICU nurses who cared for her son and gave her encouragement throughout his journey, Robin felt a call to do the same. She made the decision to return to school and pursue a career in nursing.
“I left that experience with more than an appreciation for the people who cared for my son. I left inspired,” Robin said. “I decided I wanted to become a nurse and someday give other patients and families the same kind of care that had been given to Corbin and me. I went back to school, completed my nursing degree, and eventually found myself working at the very same hospital that cared for my son.”
Twelve years after becoming a nurse herself and joining Marshfield Clinic, Robin now serves as a pediatric trauma program manager.
Today, she’s sharing her story to raise awareness for the importance of the neonatal intensive care close to home, to celebrate the nurses who made a difference and to inspire support for Marshfield Children’s new NICU.
Welcoming Corbin
When Corbin was born prematurely on Aug. 31, 2009, Robin’s world turned upside down.
“I was a mom who had just given birth, worried about my baby in the NICU, while also trying to figure out how to be present for my 1-year-old at home,” she said. “I felt pulled in two directions — physically recovering from childbirth while emotionally trying to process everything that was happening.”
The NICU nurses were her lifeline.
“I will never forget the way they cared for Corbin, but just as importantly, I will never forget the way they cared for me,” Robin said. “They were compassionate. They explained what was happening in a way I could understand when everything around me felt overwhelming. They answered my questions, reassured me when I was scared and treated my baby with such gentleness and love.”
“At one of the most vulnerable times in my life, those nurses showed me what nursing could truly be. It wasn’t only medications, monitors, assessments and medical knowledge. It was compassion. It was education. It was knowing when a scared mother needed an explanation, reassurance, or simply someone beside her who understood.”
“Those nurses changed the direction of my life.”
Changing Course
When Corbin was 9 months old, Robin returned to school part time. She eventually earned her associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in nursing. After joining Marshfield Clinic, she worked as a nurse before being accepted to the Critical Care Residency Program, during which she spent six months training for jobs in critical care areas. After the program, she worked in the recovery room for several years before joining the Pediatric Trauma Department. Later, she earned her master’s degree in healthcare administration.
“Sometimes I think about that young mom sitting beside her premature baby’s NICU bed in 2009. I had no idea that the nurses walking into that room weren’t just caring for my son — they were quietly shaping my future,” she said.
Corbin Today
Today, Corbin is an active 17-year-old high school junior.
“He plays baseball, loves to fish and hunt, loves the outdoors. He’s doing great,” Robin said.
Reflecting on her son’s NICU experience and her own journey, Robin said she’s excited to witness the next chapter for Marshfield Children’s NICU.
A New NICU
Over the last decade, growing numbers of families like Robin’s have relied on the NICU at Marshfield Children’s Hospital for specialized care during some of life’s most critical moments.
To meet the growing need for advanced neonatal care, Marshfield Children’s recently announced plans to build a new, family-centered NICU that will enhance care for fragile newborns while creating a more supportive environment for parents and loved ones. The new NICU will include 26 private rooms that will allow parents and guardians to stay overnight with their infants. Learn more about this project.
“Right now, the NICU doesn’t offer much privacy. All the families are right next to each other and parents can’t stay with their babies,” Robin said. “I think that’s really hard for new mothers. Having rooms where they can stay will be so important.”
Also important, Robin said, is the fact that local donors are making the new NICU possible. To date, more than $12.5 million in philanthropic gifts have been committed for the project.
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Our community support has always been wonderful. This project speaks volumes about how much we care about each other here.
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If you’re inspired by this story, give to support the Marshfield Children’s NICU today. 100% of your gift will help us build and sustain a NICU where the little things matter most.
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