The 17th annual reunion of The George Batchelor/Gloria Vasta Lewis Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Baptist Children’s Hospital was held November 14. The event is for children who were cared for in the NICU nurseries at Baptist, and offers an opportunity for children and parents to visit with the physicians, nurses and support staff who cared for them.
PHOTOS BY MABEL RODRIGUEZ
First image -- right to left: Harriet Pomerantz, R.N., and 
Monica Cruz, R.N., with Aiden Miller, 11 months old.
Happy and healthy!
NICU nurses Harriet Pomerantz, R.N., and Monica Cruz, R.N., are excited to be reunited with former patient Aiden Miller, age 11 months, at the 17th annual reunion of the George Batchelor/Gloria Vasta Lewis Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Baptist Children’s Hospital. Aiden, born prematurely at 27 weeks, weighed 2 pounds, 3 ounces, and spent the first 3 ½ months of his life in the NICU. More than 500 children and parents attended the recent event that reunited doctors, nurses and staff with their former patients to celebrate the milestones the youngsters have made since leaving the hospital. Approximately 400 premature or critically ill infants, many weighing little more than a pound, are treated each year in Baptist Children’s Hospital’s NICU.
Second image – Twins Luke (left) and (right) Jake Salman, with Ileana Perez-Schwarz, R.N.
Double the fun! 
Twins Luke and Jake Salman, ages 3 ½ years old, are happy to see their former nurse, Ileana Perez-Schwarz, R.N., at the 17th annual reunion of the George Batchelor/Gloria Vasta Lewis NICU at Baptist Children’s Hospital. The twins were born prematurely at 24 weeks weighing only 1 ½ pounds each, and spent 4 ½ months in the NICU. The hospital throws a party every year for former NICU patients and their families to provide a chance for the doctors and nurses to be reunited with them and to celebrate the giant strides the children have made. The Level III NICU, which is certified to care for the tiniest preemies, like Luke and Jake, care for approximately 400 premature or critically ill infants each year.