Caregivers and Families to Join for Celebrations and Remembrances at Annual Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital NICU Reunion
The annual reunion for graduates of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital is Saturday, September 21, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The reunion is open to all former patients and families who have received care from the Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital NICU.
The NICU reunion brings families and Intermountain caregivers together to celebrate the success of these families at Thunder Junction All Abilities Park, 1850 S. Dixie Drive, in St. George.
Snacks and drinks are provided, with fun activities such as face painting and well-known children's characters in costume. The park gives children the chance to play at the splash pad, music creation area, slides, climbing areas, and more.
“The staff at Intermountain St. George Regional NICU look forward to this event all year as we get to know these families well during their time spent at the hospital and there is a deep bond that exists years later,” said Dr. Patrick Carroll, medical director of Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital. “We also get to see how the babies have grown since we last saw them in such a young, vulnerable state.”
Sandy White and her family have attended the NICU reunions since 2009.
Her twin daughters, Maci and Jani, were born at 23 weeks, which was 17 weeks early on October 19, 2008. Jani passed away after her first month of life, while Maci, born at one pound and 5 ounces, remained in the hospital until she finally went home on February 5, four days after the twins’ original due date.
"The caregivers became family to us during our three-plus months stay in the NICU,” said Sandy. “You join a family – an educated family that can do for your baby what you are not able to during that time.”
She said their experience still impacts them today.
The staff decorated their door with ladybugs; and now, ladybugs have become a central theme in her life with Maci, who is now 15 years old. Ladybugs bring her thoughts of Jani’s life and feeling she is near.
As part of the reunion celebration, Intermountain Life Flight will be performing a special flyover at 10:30 a.m. Following that, there will be a memorial ceremony for infants who have passed with participants releasing butterflies at 11 a.m.
This is the second year for the butterfly release, and the White family recalled how emotional it was.
Maci White said there were tears as the butterflies were released as she thought of her twin sister.
“You attach yourself to that butterfly, a piece of your heart, and you wish it well,” said White.
Several nurses also release butterflies with the families for an infant they cared for that made a profound impact on them.
Intermountain St. George Hospital’s NICU is a 24 bed, Level III unit that opened in 2005 and provides nationally recognized, family-centered care for critically ill newborns with complex care needs.
The specialized nursery also provides care for those with high-risk pregnancies and full-term babies who need unexpected, extra support and care.
The NICU team provides a full range of highly specialized medical services for preterm newborns. This can include a range of therapies to care for the sickest babies, including those who:
- Need a machine to help them breathe (require conventional and high frequency assisted ventilation).
- Require nitric oxide therapy to help combat lung problems.
- Are at increased risk for neurodevelopmental problems or brain injuries and require therapeutic cooling or other neuroprotective therapies.
- Need highly specialized care for complex medical problems.
- Laser eye surgeries
- The hospital also has the NICU Life Flight Transport Team that provides transport services to surrounding communities and as needed throughout the country.
For more information, call Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital at 435-251-5200 or email SGNICUReunion@imail.org.
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