Nearly 800 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) graduates and their families attended Cottage Children’s Medical Center’s (CCMC) biennial NICU reunion recently at the Santa Barbara Zoo.
The NICU reunion allows families to reunite with the nurses, doctors, therapists, and hospital staff who were part of their NICU journey.
For Cottage staff, it’s an opportunity to see the growth and development of the children they once cared for and reconnect with the families they came to know well.
“The NICU reunion is a highly anticipated event for our team,” said Karen Rose, NICU manager. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see these children, who once needed extra care, now thriving. Reconnecting with them and their families is truly special.”
At this year’s reunion, families enjoyed a day filled with activities including face painting, music, a bounce house, visits from Star Wars characters, and time to explore the zoo…