On August 6, more than 400 patient families traveled from all over the country for the 2016 Texas Children’s Newborn Center family reunion. The reunion celebrated former patients who graduated from the Newborn Center in 2015 after spending 21 days or more in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
The reunion was held at Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women where parents shared stories of hope and triumph with other NICU families and reconnected with the nurses and doctors who delivered life-saving care to their critically ill babies.
“The families were so grateful to be able to come back and share the great progress their babies have made,” said Judy Swanson, vice president of nursing for the Newborn Center. “It gave them the opportunity to visit with the employees, physicians and other families that they spent so much time with while in the NICU. It was heartwarming to see them making so much progress.”
Highlights from the reunion included remarks from Swanson and Texas Children’s Chief of Neonatology Dr. Gautham Suresh, Newborn Center Nursing Director Heather Cherry, guest speakers Katy Haynes and Desiree Collins-Bradley, and blessings from Texas Children’s chaplain Kirsten Springmeyer.
The NICU reunion also offered exciting entertainment for the children including coloring, face painting, inflatable pony races, appearances from Minnie Mouse and SpongeBob SquarePants, and the guests enjoyed a good old-fashioned Texas barbecue.