Duluth Mother Gives Back to Essentia NICU

Amanda Mallinson Had Two Babies in the NICU, Now She Works There

DULUTH, Minn. – Beth Hall has seen many patients in her 34 years at Essentia Health-St. Mary’s, but remembers the first time she met Amanda Mallinson well.

“I remember her being a young, vulnerable, new mom who was scared to death,” said Hall.

Amanda just gave birth to her son, Riley. However, Riley was premature and needed a lengthy stay at Essentia’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

“A day short of three months,” said Mallinson. “I just remember sitting in a chair, and looking into a little box at my baby every day, eight to ten hours a day.”

Nearly five years later Amanda had a second son Isaiah, and needed another, though much short trip to the NICU.

“It’s almost odd to people when I say, “Oh, we only spent eight days in the NICU”,” said Hall.

Now 8 and 3 respectively, both children lead normal lives, a grateful Amanda wanted to say “thank you”.

Amanda was so moved by the care she received from the staff in the NICU, she left her job managing a hotel’s housekeeping department, just for the opportunity to work at Essentia.

“ I’d kind of thought about it after my oldest was born,’ said Mallinson. “And after my second one was born it was this feeling that even if I couldn’t get into this unit I just wanted to be part of the daily care–giving and taking care and making a difference.”

Amanda got a job in Environmental Services and thanks to an understanding supervisor, now regularly works in the NICU.

Now, one of Amanda’s unofficial duties is being there for new mothers struggling with the fact their babies are fighting for life.

“I think having been there and being a woman and always wanting to kind of help fix situations, it just comes natural,” said Mallinson.

The same NICU nurses who cared for Amanda and her children say she’s an important member of the team.

“That’s valuable for us as staff and for the moms,” said Hall. “She’s in the rooms, and the moms might be sitting here with no one else and feeling lonely or depressed or sad or any of a number of emotions.”

While a many Essentia employees have given birth in the NICU, Hall says Amanda is the first NICU parent to come back as an employee.

Meanwhile, Amanda believes working at Essentia is the least she can do.

“I would do it over again a million times, just for the opportunity to work in the same vicinity as these people who worked so hard to save my children,” said Mallinson. “I cherish them, and I would do anything to support this unit. These are amazing people.”

They’re also the people who made sure Amanda could celebrate this and many more Mother’s Days.