From Ivy’s Branch - A Place Where Hearts Connect And Stories Bloom

Welcome to The Ivy Branch — a place where love lives on, grief softens into gentleness, and stories remind us we are never truly alone.

8.1.2025

01 - a personal blog

Hi, I’m Sydney — a nurse, a mom, and the heart behind The Ivy Branch.

My natural curiosity and purpose-driven mindset paved the way for my pursuit of becoming a registered nurse over a decade ago. The opportunity to directly impact the health and well-being of others, combined with the constant chance to learn and grow, has kept me eager throughout the years. Yet it wasn’t until I became a mom to my own special girl that my passion and true purpose fully revealed themselves.

For me, nursing has always been more than a career - it’s a calling. As cliché as it sounds, I was born to be a nurse. Even as a child, I felt a strong determination and deep desire to one day hold the title of nurse. I grew up watching my mom work from home as a medical transcriptionist.  She worked mostly night shifts, a time of stillness that allowed her to both excel at her work and remain fully present for me during the day. I admired the way her career blended discipline and flexibility and I credit for sparking my early glimpse into the medical world. Over the years, my own personal experiences only deepened my interest with healthcare - especially in the ways that innovation and research continue to transform medicine. Together, those influences shaped the path I walk today, one built on both passion and purpose.

My nursing journey began early, when I enrolled in a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program as a senior in high school. After graduation, I pursued a nursing degree and gained valuable experience working as a nurse technician in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). In 2018, I graduated with my Bachelors of Science in nursing, and two years later, I stepped into me dream role as a Neonatal Intensive Care nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at a private hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Yet no textbook, no hospital shift, and no degree could prepare me for the role that would most profoundly shaped my life - becoming Ivy’s mom.

Life came full circle in 2023, when I became both a NICU nurse and NICU mom. From the moment my daughter entered this world, she carried a light that forever changed me. Ivy was born at 37 weeks with Down syndrome and a congenital heart defect, requiring immediate intensive care. Seven weeks after discharge, she faced another ICU admission, and over the following months, her medical journey grew more complex. She spent nearly six months hospitalized in New Orleans, Louisiana before finally coming home where she required around the clock care. Without hesitation, I stepped into the role of her primary caregiver — her personal ICU nurse, but also her biggest advocate, protector, and source of love.

In February 2025, my world shattered when Ivy passed away unexpectedly. Losing her left me questioning everything - my calling, my career, and my purpose. Yet, even in grief, I hold onto the belief that love never ends, and that God‘s plan is greater than what I can see. Out of this season of loss, The Ivy Branch was born - a space created to honor my daughter, Ivy Irene, and carry her light forward.

Here, you’ll find stories of love, loss, faith, and resilience. My hope is that this space offers comfort, connection, and a reminder that none of us are alone in this journey.

From Ivy’s Branches,

Inspiration continues to grow. Ivy is, and will always be, my greatest teacher. Through sharing my story, I hope to offer comfort, light, and encouragement to others walking through their own valleys. My mission is to advocate, educate, and empower others to remain hopeful and never give up.

Whether you’re a new mom, an experienced mom, a medical mom, or simply someone navigating the spaces in between, this blog was created with you in mind.

Whatever season of life you’re walking through right now, I hope you find comfort here  — comfort in knowing you are not alone. Within these pages , I share pieces of my heart, my journey, and the lessons I’ve learned along the way.

I invite you to join me as we walk this path together: one step, one story, one branch at a time.