Families who had children treated in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at St. Charles Bend gathered on Saturday for a heartwarming reunion event. The celebration brought together parents, children, nurses, doctors, and hospital staff to acknowledge their shared experiences and the progress of the young patients.
A Time for Connection and Reflection
The NICU, a specialized department that provides care for sick or premature babies, offers a unique opportunity for connection and understanding among families who have experienced similar challenges. Matt Skarzynski, father to Angie, emphasized the importance of the gathering. “Getting to be here and celebrate with other families who can understand what that experience is like is just really important to us,” Skarzynski said.
Skarzynski and Angel Speranza experienced firsthand the critical care provided by the NICU. Their daughter, Angie, was born at 27 weeks and two days, weighing only one pound and nine ounces. Speranza, Angie’s mother, recalled the difficult moments following Angie’s birth. “When I was in the O.R. and they whisked her away and we didn’t know if she was alive or not. It was really hard,” Speranza said.
Angie spent nearly four months in the NICU. Skarzynski noted the extensive support the family received during that time. “We were wrapped around by such a big community in the NICU of the folks who worked there and spending close to four months having so many additional people who cared and loved for Angie and were invested in her progress, was a start to parenthood that you don’t get any other way,” Skarzynski said.
A Celebration of Life and Hope
The reunion featured various activities for the children and their families, including a bounce house, face painting, and balloon artists. Displays of incubators and other medical equipment used in the NICU were also available for attendees to view. Amid the happiness and celebration, there were also moments of reflection. A table was set up to remember NICU babies who did not survive.
Heather Bristol, a NICU Nurse at St. Charles Bend, reflected on the profound nature of her work. “There’s so much hope and new life, no matter what that life weighs, whether it’s a pound or 10 pounds. It’s incredibly humbling to hold a child that fits in the palm of your hand and an incredible responsibility,” Bristol said.
Dr. Patrick Lewallen, NICU Medical Director, expressed the joy of seeing the children thrive. “It’s super impactful because they start out often like this. And to see them running around and playing and parents saying they’re doing great, it’s just the best news in the world,” Dr. Lewallen said.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
