NICU Graduates Show off Growth in 7th Annual Reunion
| April 25, 2018 | A steady stream of healthy, happy and adventurous infants and toddlers visited UAMS Medical Center April 21 for the Seventh Annual NICU Reunion.
Karrissa Newby has been to the event once before, when her baby was about 3 months old and a very recent graduate of the UAMS neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Kortlynn was born November 2015 weighing 2 pounds, 12 ounces at 28 weeks gestation.
“She was a perfect baby, just small,” Newby said. “It means so much to see the nurses and doctors who took care of Kortlynn in the three months she was here. They remember who she is. I’ve even become Facebook friends with some of her nurses. So they’re still involved in her growth and development.”
Karissa Newby (left) catches up with fellow NICU mom Lindsey Taylor. Their children, Kortlyn (left) and Kamdyn were born Nov. 2015.
Newby says the light-hearted family atmosphere is what brought her back. The reunion for Newby included running into a fellow NICU mother and friend she’d made while her daughter was at UAMS. Lindsey Taylor had twins November 2015 at 30 weeks gestation. Kamdyn and Kudder were born on Taylor’s birthday.
“My water broke at 26 weeks. I was hospitalized and we tried to hold them in as long as we could.”
Kamdyn weighed 3 pounds, 12 ounces and Kudder was 3 pounds, 14 ounces. The brothers were well enough to go home before their due dates: Kamdyn on Jan. 29 and Kudder on Feb. 3. They were due Feb. 8. Kudder died May 30, 2016.
Taylor says her sister-in-law, Anna Michelle Cotner, was a source of encouragement and inspiration during the journey. The Taylor babies were born one week after Cotner’s baby, John, who had a 70-day stay in the UAMS NICU.
Kamdyn, 2, gives his cousin John a kiss. The boys were born one week a part.
During the event, Kamdyn and John giggle and play while their mothers watch, occasionally reminding them to be gentle.
“We live in different counties,” Cotner said. “So we don’t get to spend as much time together as we’d like. We’re working to change that.”
Newby says she’s grateful for her daughter’s progress. Kortlynn is walking, talking and acting as any 2-year-old.
“She just tested above her age level at school,” Newby said.
The NICU Reunion had a superhero theme. Costumed characters added to the fun by interacting and posing for photographs. Batman, Wonder Woman and a crew from Star Wars were among the characters.
Rebecca Sartini, D.N.P, is the assistant director of nursing for newborn intensive care. She’s been a NICU nurse for 30 years.
“Our babies are our super heroes,” Sartini said. “So many parents look forward to seeing their primary care nurses and doctors again. They’re excited to show off their graduates and how much they’ve grown.”
Children also enjoyed a canine volunteer from UAMS’ animal-assisted program titled SPOT (Special Pets Offering Therapy). Many had their faces painted and others played a bean bag toss game outside.
The NICU reunion also served as an information and educational event for parents, including car seat checks, a reminder to keep babies on their backs for safe sleep and an offer of support with representatives from Love Lives, a UAMS perinatal bereavement program.
The 64-bed UAMS NICU offers all private rooms, including rooms equipped for multiple births. In 2018, UAMS became the first hospital in Arkansas to have a web-based Angel Eye Camera on every bed. UAMS is also the only hospital in central Arkansas to have received an international “baby friendly” recognition for its policies and procedures encouraging new mothers to breastfeed.
Lynlee Johnson, 6 months, was born at 31 weeks. She spent 74 days in the UAMS NICU. (Pictured with her parents, Justin and Courtney, and big brother Drake.)
Dakota and Chloe Driver are a big help with their little brother Holden. The 11-month-old spent 3 weeks in the UAMS NICU.