A Comforting Presence: Spiritual Care in Women’s and Children’s Services
Hearing Brahms’ “Lullaby” chime over the hospital speaker system at Timpanogos Regional Hospital is a gentle reminder that the hospital not only serves those who are ill or injured, but that it is also a place of life and promise. Each chime marks the arrival of a newborn—most often to parents who have eagerly awaited this joyful moment. And yet, within the women’s care unit, some families face uncertainty, unfulfilled expectations, and at times, heartbreak and loss. In the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and pediatrics unit, others navigate difficult, unexpected, and sometimes tragic circumstances. The spiritual care team at Timpanogos is there to meet the emotional and spiritual needs of these individuals.
Chaplains encounter a wide range of situations as they offer spiritual care in hospital settings. A couple sits in stunned numbness after learning that their baby, born too early, is not likely to survive. A new mother, traumatized by a serious postpartum hemorrhage, struggles to focus on and bond with her newborn. A mother, marking her baby’s 100th day in the NICU, is deeply grateful for the progress made, yet is physically and emotionally exhausted. A teenager in pediatrics, confined to a hospital bed for most of the school year, longs to attend dances, sporting events, or even just attend classes like everyone else. A couple in the NICU stands over the bassinet of their surviving twin, mourning the loss of the other twin just days earlier.
Hospital chaplains fulfill a unique role in supporting patients and families through these moments. Chaplain Mary Elizabeth Christensen shared, “It’s remarkable to see the difference in a patient or a family member as they recount their experiences, or as they share their concerns and fears with me during a spiritual care visit. I can see their body relax as they are heard and feel supported in these difficult moments.” Chaplain Heather Sullivan also reflected on the nature of this work: “Mothers in the NICU often face the challenge of learning to parent in an unexpected environment while also navigating their own healing and recovery from difficult pregnancies or deliveries. It is a sacred gift to accompany parents in the NICU as they process their birth stories, celebrate milestones, and find paths toward healing.”
““It is a sacred gift to accompany parents in the NICU as they process their birth stories, celebrate milestones, and find paths toward healing.””
Christina Wright, Manager of the NICU and Pediatrics unit at Timpanogos, emphasized the essential role chaplains play in women’s care, pediatrics, and the NICU: “They provide compassionate guidance and invaluable support to both nurses and families during challenging times.” Wright described the chaplains as a “comforting presence” who help families “find solace and hope in the midst of uncertainty,” and noted that their influence fosters “an atmosphere of peace,” helping create a nurturing environment for both staff and patients. “We are profoundly grateful for the love and support they bring to our community.”
