A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

Burlington family desperately seeks evening nurse so they can bring daughter home from hospital


By Vicki Prichard
NKyTribune reporter

Raven Hawthorn is ready to come home, but until her family can secure an evening nurse to help with care, the 18-month-old will remain at Cincinnati’s Children’s hospital, where she’s been since her birth.

Within hours of her premature delivery, Raven was transported to Children’s Hospital. Her tiny body connected to tubes that help her function and grow, the hospital is the only home that Raven has known. Her family hopes that will change very soon.

Raven was born with a large omphalocele, an abdominal wall defect in which the anterior abdomen does not close properly, allowing the intestines to protrude outside the fetus. In her case, her stomach, liver, and intestines were in a sac outside of her body. She also has Amniotic Band Syndrome, which occurs when a fetus becomes entangled in fibrous string-like amniotic bands in the womb, restricting blood flow. The banding affected the growth of Raven’s fingers and toes.

Raven and her dad, Nicholas Hawthorn (Photo provided)

“We had her at Good Samaritan and, after an hour or two of her being stable, they brought her by for us to see her for five minutes and then took her to Children’s. She’s been there ever since,” says her mother, Rachel Cahill.

Now, the only thing keeping Raven from finally coming home is her family’s ability to find an overnight nurse — an LPN or RN — who can be available eight to ten hours to help with care.

“A night nurse is a requirement,” says Cahill. “We found out six months ago that we can bring her home when we can secure that.”

Finding in-home evening care has been a challenge. By sharing their story, the family hopes to cast a wide net in their search for a nurse.

“We don’t need a day nurse, we just have to have a night nurse because she is on the ventilator — on low settings — to keep her lungs fully expanded so they can grow,” says Cahill. “She’s making progress and we only need a night nurse until she gets off of that.”

Until then, Raven’s family, who lives in Burlington, will continue with the only routine they’ve known since their daughter’s birth.

Every morning, Cahill wakes up and goes to the hospital to read to and watch movies with her daughter. She spends about eight hours with her — tries to time her departure after her Raven goes to sleep — and then dad, Nicholas Hawthorn, comes to be with Raven after his work shift.

“Some nights she’ll wake up and be angry,” says Cahill. “They say, “She’s a totally different baby when you’re here.” We know she’s ready to come home.”

Raven has had more than 20 surgeries as well a massive stroke when she was eight months old. Cahill says she completely recovered from the stroke.

Raven and mom, Rachel Cahill

“She’s been so sick her whole life, but now she’s thriving. She has good head control and she wants to stand up,” says Cahill.

Cahill says she and her husband have a tumbling mat that they sit on with Raven and do her therapy exercises with her when they visit, until she falls asleep in their arms.

Having their “sassy” “rainbow baby” in the hospital for so long has been difficult on the family, says Cahill, particularly on the grandmothers who are ready for their granddaughter to come home.

“In the beginning, it was extremely difficult, especially with Raven being so tiny and in the NICU, hooked up to multiple machines and monitors, with endless tubes and lines,” says Sheila Rosas, Raven’s paternal grandmother. “It’s been a long road, but I’m extremely thankful that she continues to thrive, and very excited that our sweet girl is ready to come home.”

Cahill hopes that LPNs or RNs who are available to help with evening care for Raven in their home will contact the Nurse’s Registry, Inc. at 859-259-9687, Interim Healthcare at 859-578-9191and ask to be on the Raven Hawthorn Case, or reach out to her through email at rbeemon@yahoo.com.

“She’s a sweet little girl and she’s ready to come home,” says Cahill.

The family wants to get Raven home.


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2 Comments

  1. I wish I could train to care for her I sure would in a minute but I am only a CNA and not qualifyed to do this will be praying for you

  2. Linda Laws says:

    Maybe check with the college’s and see if they have a LPN that is going for their RN that maybe wants to help. She is beautiful and amazing little girl. Prayers

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