The 8th Annual Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Reunion on Saturday, Aug. 8 brought together former Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach patients, their families and the care teams who helped them during their hospital stay. NICU doctors, nurses and other team members were happy to see that their patients were growing up healthy.
“Most of our patients in the NICU weighed less than two pounds at birth,” says Antoine Soliman, M.D., medical director, NICU, Miller Children’s. “Seeing them again at age two or three is rewarding because we’re able to see them thriving.” At the annual NICU reunion, Miller Children’s care teams are able to celebrate and reunite with patients that spent months in the NICU. This event presents patients and their families with a special opportunity to thank the health care professionals who were responsible for their now healthy lives.
The hospital’s auditorium was entirely transformed to mimic a beach for the event. The reunion featured a live bubble show, beach ball games, arts and crafts sessions and face painting.
“The NICU reunion is always such a fun event,” says Rita Goshert, manager, Child Life Program, Miller Children’s. “Seeing patients reunite with their doctors and nurses again is heartwarming. We hope to see everyone again next year.”
