The 17th annual reunion of The George Batchelor/Gloria Vasta
Lewis Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Baptist Children’s Hospital will be held on Saturday, November 14. The free event is for children who were cared for in the NICU nurseries at Baptist, and will be held lakeside from 1-4 p.m. at Baptist Children’s Hospital, 8900 North Kendall Drive. Children and their parents will be treated to clowns, games, face painting, refreshments and more.
(Image: At last year’s NICU Reunion, nurse manager Maria Olmeda, R.N., left, and supervisor Sheila Hecht, R.N., right, had a good time playing with Kiara and Kasey Reyes, age 2. The twin girls were reunited with nurses, doctors and others who cared for them during their stay in the NICU after they were born.)
The reunion is a celebration of life and health, and provides an opportunity for children and parents to visit with the physicians, nurses and support staff who cared for them. The annual event was established by the NICU nurses 17 years ago when they wanted to provide the children they cared for with a fun-filled day of activities to celebrate their health milestones.
“These children have come a long way since they were born,” said Frederique (Freddie) Auguste, R.N., one of the organizers of the event. “It gives us a chance to see how well they’re doing, and it’s a fun day for them.” More than 600 children and parents are expected to attend this year’s reunion.
For information or reservations, call 786-596-2810.