(Brooklyn, NY)—Maimonides Children’s Hospital welcomed 500 former patients of their Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and their families for a tri-annual reunion event at the hospital. The block party took place outside the hospital and featured food, games, entertainment, raffles, and more. The children, many of whom were some of the NICU’s highest risk cases, and their families, spoke about their experiences being treated at Maimonides and receiving the care that allowed them to survive and thrive despite being born prematurely and,  in some cases, with life-threatening conditions. Part of the Maimonides Health system, Maimonides Children’s Hospital is the only children’s hospital and pediatric trauma center in Brooklyn.

“Our tri-annual NICU reunion is one of the most meaningful events at our hospital. When these babies first arrived in our care, many were fighting for their lives, and so, it is truly extraordinary for our team to celebrate alongside these thriving children and their families,” said Ken Gibbs, President and CEO, Maimonides Health. “We are proud of our legacy of providing life-saving neonatal care to our community’s tiniest patients.”

“The families who come to our NICU represent some of the most challenging cases we encounter, and caring for them demands both clinical expertise and deep understanding of the emotional journeys these parents endure,” said Alok Bhutada, MD, Chief of the Division of Newborn Medicine at Maimonides Children’s Hospital. “It was incredibly rewarding to see the children run around and play. Seeing them thrive reminds me of why I chose this calling.”

The reunion brought together families who faced extremely trying days with children in the NICU and were grateful for the chance to celebrate. One special reunion included three mothers, who met as strangers in the NICU and forged a bond that has lasted over a decade.

Laura, whose son spent five months in the NICU in 2012, said, “The clinical staff at Maimonides gave us hope and encouragement when we needed it most. Everyone at Maimonides was really considerate and knew what to do. Now my son is on the travel soccer team—you can’t even tell what he went through except for his voice.”

Stacy, whose daughter Frances was born at 25 weeks, said, “The nurses were incredibly calm doing a job that would have been beyond stressful to me. They answered every single question I had—and I would come with a notepad full of them. Now Frances is such a resilient kid and does karate despite being small for her age.”

Kristin, whose daughter Margaret was born at 26 weeks, said, “The Maimonides staff made sure I had what I needed. Someone was always on the NICU floor to answer questions immediately. When I finally held Margaret for the first time, I truly felt like a mother. Now, she’s thriving in musical theatre and loves skiing and skateboarding.”

View photos of the event and download using PIN 1588.

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About Maimonides Children’s Hospital

Maimonides Children’s Hospital is a New York State-designated Regional Perinatal Center (RPC), in recognition of excellence in delivering maternity and neonatal care. The NICU provides critical care for newborns in a state-of-the-art facility, which is equipped to offer advanced procedures such as therapeutic hypothermia and video electroencephalogram (EEG). In-house coverage by a board-certified neonatologist is provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for all high-risk deliveries and care in the NICU.