Parents and patients attend first NICU reunion at ACH’s Beeghly Campus

June 20, 2015 at 5:33p.m.

BOARDMAN

In most respects, Kelly Robertson’s 4-year-old triplets, Mathew, Michael and Morgan, are like other children their age: They attend preschool, enjoy being active and love assembling puzzles, reading books and swimming.

To Robertson, though, the typical aspects of their lives also are their greatest blessing.

“They were born at 29 weeks, 11 weeks early,” the New Middletown woman recalled. “It was frightening to have babies who were medically fragile.”

On the other hand, the three youngsters received “top-notch” care in Akron Children’s Hospital’s neonatal intensive-care unit, where they spent between 68 and 77 days, Robertson said.

Her appreciation for the care they received also was the main reason she and the triplets came to Saturday’s first NICU reunion at ACH’s Beeghly Campus, 6505 Market St.

Spearheading the effort was the Family Action Collaborative Team, which worked with parents and hospital staff.

The three-hour gathering brought together hundreds of former NICU patients, family members, volunteers, caregivers and physical, occupational and respiratory therapists to celebrate the lives and successes of those who spent time in the unit or in a special-care nursery. The “graduates” received diplomas and special caps.

The amount of time babies spend in NICUs can vary from a few days to up to four months, depending on several factors, noted Mary Ellen Michael, a registered nurse who also manages ACH’s unit.

The estimated 130 “graduates” ranged from a few months old to age 29, Michael said. She also explained that jaundice, withdrawal symptoms, infections, hypoglycemia and respiratory problems are other common reasons infants are in NICUs.