On May 25, Texas Children’s Newborn Center welcomed more than 120 guests to celebrate and bless its newest room – The Butterfly Room – where neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) families can privately say goodbye to their loved ones.
The Butterfly Room is aptly named to represent the patients’ transition from life to death. The conception of this room began 15 months prior to opening and was spearheaded by a special NICU nurse, Aimee Renaudin, who wanted peace and private care for the grieving parents of her patients.
“This room was inspired by the families I met in the NICU at Texas Children’s who had lost their babies,” Renaudin said. “Their stories, courage and strength were the motivating factor in creating The Butterfly Room. I am honored to know each one of them and consider it the biggest privilege to have taken care of their precious babies. My prayer is that this room will provide a tranquil home-like atmosphere, away from the busyness of the NICU, a place of comfort and peace for families to say goodbye.”
The celebration, held at Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, was filled with Renaudin’s friends and family, including her partners in the project, Genie Renaudin (her mother) and Kristen and Adam Wheeless, as well as families who had lost a child at the Newborn Center and saw a need for this type of room.
Thanks to the generous donations from 249 donors, more than $60,000 was raised to support this project and provide comfort for grieving NICU families.
Speakers at the dedication ceremony included Renaudin, Chief of Neonatology Dr. Gotham Suresh, NICU Nursing Director Heather Cherry, NICU Vice President Judy Swanson and Texas Children’s chaplain Kirstin Springmeyer who presided over the blessing of The Butterfly Room.