It’s NICU Awareness Month, and Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women is celebrating its staff and graduates, babies who spent time in the Newborn Intensive Care unit (NICU) and eventually graduated or transitioned to pediatric primary care. Celebrations included the annual NICU Reunion, funded by Baptist Memorial Health Care Foundation, and the unveiling of a new gallery wall.
Gallery of Hope
On Monday, Sept. 8, NICU families gathered at Baptist Women’s Hospital for an unveiling of 27 additional photos and stories highlighting new NICU graduates as part of the Gallery of Hope. The gallery now contains 79 images and stories about NICU graduates. Behind every picture is a team of physicians and nurses, as well as respiratory, speech, physical and occupational therapists who pour their hearts into ensuring the best possible outcomes for babies in the NICU.
“These families trusted us with their babies’ care and are allowing us to share their personal stories to encourage and give hope to others,” said Allison Chase, CEO and administrator of Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women and the Spence and Becky Wilson Baptist Children’s Hospital. “Each photo and story represent not only the strength of these little ones and their families but also the dedication of the physicians, nurses and staff who walked alongside them every step of the way.”
Misee Lancaster, a registered nurse in the NICU, contributed a painting and her story, featured at the beginning of the Gallery of Hope. In her story, Lancaster shares how she came to work at Baptist Women’s Hospital’s NICU, and how she has learned through her own losses that it’s OK to carry grief and joy simultaneously.
“The Gallery of Hope was meant to inspire patients, guests and their families in the NICU. Little did we know the impact and inspiration it would have on our staff,” said Paula Casey, manager of marketing and physician relations at Baptist Women’s Hospital and Baptist Children’s Hospital. “Those encouraging stories are love letters to the staff and physicians, thanking them for helping to celebrate every milestone and caring for, not only the babies, but the families as well.”
Lisa Hubbard, photographer/videographer for Baptist, took the new photos featured in the gallery.
NICU Reunion
On Saturday, Sept. 13, the hospital hosted the NICU reunion with the theme, the “Greatest NICU Graduates on Earth.” The reunion provided an opportunity for families to reconnect with the physicians and nurses who cared for their infants. About 550 people registered to attend the event.
“The NICU Reunion is more than just a gathering — it’s a celebration of life, love and the incredible journeys of our tiniest graduates,” said Chase. “For our staff, seeing these children thrive is the greatest miracle, a beautiful reminder of why we do what we do every day.”
The event featured many fun activities for the kids, including face painting, carnival games, 901goats from Walkapony Goat Ranch, a dunk booth, cotton candy, bounce houses and visits with P.D. Parrot.
Baptist Memorial Health Care Foundation funds the reunion and supports NICU patients in a variety of ways, such as providing the NicView camera system, which is placed at each bedside in the NICU to give parents, family and friends the ability to view infants in real time 24/7 through a secure online portal. NicView allows families to continue to develop a bond with their preemie or hospitalized infant even when they can’t be with them.
“NicView is the next best thing to physically being there, adding peace of mind for our families,” said Baptist Foundation Senior Development Officer Laura Cantrell. “We have 66 NicView cameras in the NICU, and that’s only possible because of the support of donors.”
To learn more about helping Baptist Foundation support NICU patients, click here.
