On March 7, Texas Children’s Fetal Center held a successful patient reunion at Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women. Families from around the country traveled to Houston to reconnect with Fetal Center physicians, nurse coordinators and staff.
Since its inaugural event in 2007, the reunion provides an opportunity for physicians and staff to reunite with patient families who received life-saving medical and surgical care at our Fetal Center.
“Many of these families spent extended periods of time with our Fetal Center staff and in our neonatal intensive care unit,” said Texas Children’s Obstetrician and Gynecologist-in-Chief Dr. Michael Belfort. “This reunion is a memorable opportunity for our team to reconnect with these wonderful families from across the country that we have positively impacted, and we cherish the opportunity to see these patients, who overcame tough challenges in their young lives, grow and thrive.”
Chloe Villarreal, who traveled six hours from her family’s home in San Juan, Texas, joined other patient families to celebrate the lives of these precious miracle babies who were cared for by our maternal fetal medicine and NICU staff, and who have since then, reached incredible milestones along the way.
“We are grateful to Texas Children’s and all of the doctors and the entire medical team who gave us hope and reassurance, and took such great care of our baby,” said Villarreal, whose daughter Charlotte underwent fetoscopic repair surgery to treat spina bifida. “When our daughter turned 18 months old, she walked for the very first time. Texas Children’s will always be a part of our family, and that’s why I make it a point to attend the fetal reunion. It makes me feel so good that all of these children are doing wonderful.”
The Fetal Center Reunion, which occurs every two years at Texas Children’s, included a delicious lunch and plenty of fun activities for the families, including a craft corner where children got a chance to build their own Golden Retriever comfort dog and take their new furry friend home with them.