Our NICU turns 30! ‘Grads’ Celebrate Aloha Style
There were hugs, hula skirts, handprints and a whole lot of happy faces at the 30th annual celebration for Neonatal Intensive Care “graduates” at Green Valley Administration Center on May 16.
“If it seems like we’re treating you like family, that’s because we are like family,” Katie Lydon, director of Women’s and Children’s Services, told the crowd. “We are honored to have been able to care for your family when you needed us.”
NICU grads of all sizes -- and their families -- came to the free event coordinated by Janelle Chenowith, R.N., and Megan King, R.N. and executed by scores of staff and volunteers.
The conference center took on an aloha theme, with surfboards, palm trees, colorful leis for every visitor. There was even an Hawaiian dance group that performed.
Catherine Baxter of Sen. Lois Wolk’s office came to present a resolution honoring the NICU, co-authored by Sen. Wolk and Assembly member Jim Frazier.
The oldest “grad” to attend was Jason Wixon who turned 29 this year and the youngest was Logan Doerr, born Feb. 26. Actually, several “grads” in their 20s came with parents to thank the doctors for giving them a solid start on life.
Neonatologists Richard Bell, M.D., and Steven Gwiazdowski, M.D., were pleased and stunned to see them all, big and small.
Every grad was invited to leave a hand print or foot print on a canvas, part of special art project, that will soon be posted on the walls of the second-floor hallway at NorthBay Medical Center.
“We knew we had to do something special to mark the 30th anniversary,” explained Heather Troutt, clinical manager for the Women’s and Children’s Services Department. “We wanted all of them to leave their mark.”
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