In the fall of every year the St Alphonsus Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) hosts a harvest party for all the NICU 'graduates'. The NICU 'grads' are the kids who have successfully made it out of the NICU and are now growing and thriving because of the treatment, care, and in a lot of cases the literal miracles they received while in the NICU. We are proud to have one of those NICU miracles in our family.
R spent his first week of life in the NICU. After 7 days of medical procedures, restless days and nights, waiting, praying, hoping, and dealing with a situation far more stressful and difficult than people would ever think, we finally got to take our little guy home.
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| Sporting his new NICU shirt |
Shining a spotlight on the kids who most likely would not have survived were it not for the NICU, this party is a true reason to celebrate. The hospital staff is so excited to see some of the babies they worked on. Their demeanor sets a fun and light hearted mood for the whole event. There are carnival style games to play, prizes to win, refreshments, face painting, cookie decorating, family photos, door prizes, and more, all free of charge.
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| Dancing on the stage, because no one can stand still when you hear the Village People |
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| Face painting. These teenage volunteers were terrible artists but they were trying so hard. |
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| 2 Ninja Turtles, a pig, and a duck eating some cookies they decorated. |
Very few people know each other at the party, so it's a great place to meet new people and see other NICU miracles in person. The atmosphere at the party would best be described as one of pure joy. Since all of the families there are on the other side of one of the most difficult times of their lives, all seem to have a connection with one another, and everyone is very happy.
The people who dedicate themselves to working in the NICU, saving lives and helping strangers on a daily basis, surely deserve a special place in Heaven.
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