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Hundreds of families attended the annual NICU Reunion held April 13 at UAMS Medical Center.

Former Preemies Return to UAMS NICU for Fun and Games

April 17, 2019 | Nurses and neonatologists who work in the NICU say it’s an exciting time for them to see how much the children have grown since they left the NICU, whether it was 3 months ago or decades ago.

About 200 families and UAMS staff attended the annual NICU Reunion held April 13 at UAMS Medical Center.

Among the graduates was 35-year-old Jason Moix. Moix was born four months early after his mom was diagnosed with cancer and needed an operation to have tumors removed. He spent several

weeks in the NICU. Today he analyzes financial data for big companies at Acxiom in Conway. He was one of nurse Sharon Wilhelm’s first babies to care for as she started her nursing career.

David Price is a programmer for Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Pine Bluff. He was born in North Little Rock in 1977 with a cardiovascular defect.

“It was later determined I was in advanced stages of congenital heart failure and sent to UAMS for treatment,” Price said. Price eventually had open heart surgery at age 2 at UAMS. Arkansas Children’s Hospital was undergoing construction at the time. “UAMS definitely saved the day for me back in 1977 and again in 1979,” Price said.

As someone who works close to the medical field, Price says it’s interesting to note the advancements in treatment over the years. While he had to wait until he was a toddler to get the surgery, surgeons are now able to repair the condition much sooner – sometimes in utero, Price said.

Braylan Taylor, 3, has come back to the UAMS NICU reunions with parents every year since he graduated. He was born when his mother, Brandee, was 27 weeks pregnant. Between UAMS and Arkansas Children’s, he spent nearly 4 months in the NICU.

Taylor and other young graduates stayed busy at the reunion getting their face painted and posing for pictures with superhero characters like Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman.

“It means a lot to see how much the babies have grown and how well they are doing at home,” said Sara Peeples, M.D., neonatologist and medical director of the UAMS NICU. “Our theme ‘forever our heroes’ is about these children and families who have overcome so much. It’s a good reminder of why we do what we do.”