DesignInSunshine

Hi, I’m Caitlyn—NICU Nurse turned NICU Mama.

I fell in love with one of my tiny patients and decided to keep her forever! Our daughter, Angel, was born at just 23 weeks and spent almost 11 months in the NICU. She came home on oxygen for her first two years and still has a g-tube at age three. Thanks to endless love, incredible therapists and specialists, and her own fierce determination, she’s now a thriving, exceptional toddler.

Becoming a medical mama was a complete shell shock—it changed me to my core. I gained an even deeper respect for medical and special needs families, and a whole new perspective on my role as a NICU nurse. Motherhood transformed me into a more family-centered caregiver; now, I see the entire family as my patient. My mission with every shift is to bring a little light into their day—sometimes through crafts, bubble baths, photoshoots, skin-to-skin moments, or milestone celebrations; and sometimes through a quiet hand to hold, a hug, a shared tear, or an honest conversation.

I wanted to combine my love for the NICU and medically complex world with my passion for creativity and design—and that’s how Design in Sunshine was born. Each piece is created to honor the strength, resilience, and love that shine so brightly in NICU parents and their miracle children.