By Kev' Moye
Smiles, laughter, hugs, handshakes, pizza, cupcakes, finger paint and cell phone photos were in abundance during the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) 2024 Reunion, held at the Little Rock Zoo.
The annual event gives NICU team members, the children they cared for, and their families a chance to reflect and mingle in a festive, celebratory setting.
“The reunion is a big deal for us because we like to see our families again,” said Sara Peeples, M.D., medical director of the unit. “Some of our babies stay in NICU for over 100 days. It’s wonderful for us to see the kids when they’re getting bigger, older and doing well. It’s a reminder of how our hard work is making a difference. It’s also great for families to come back and see the staff. The nurses and respiratory therapists that take care of our babies almost become a second family for our parents. Some of them keep in touch with one another even after they leave NICU. So, it is like a family reunion.”
