From Tiny Patients to Thriving Kids: DeTar NICU Families Reunite at Annual Reunion Event
5/7/2026
What begins in the most fragile moments of life often grows into something extraordinary.
On May 7, DeTar Hospital North welcomed families back for its annual NICU Homecoming—a heartfelt reunion celebrating the babies who once received care in the hospital’s Level II neonatal intensive care unit and the families who walked that journey beside them.
The room was filled with laughter, hugs and happy tears as parents returned with children who are no longer tiny newborns—but thriving toddlers and growing kids. For many families, it was the first time returning since discharge, and the emotion in the room said everything words could not.
“These reunions are incredibly special because they bring us back to the beginning of each family’s journey,” said Mary Claire Bradshaw, director of DeTar’s Women & Children’s Center. “In the NICU, every moment matters. We care for some of the most vulnerable newborns, and we build deep connections with their families along the way. Seeing those children return healthy, growing, and full of life is the most meaningful reminder of why this work matters.”
DeTar Hospital North’s Level II NICU provides specialized care for newborns who need extra monitoring, support, or treatment after birth. While every family’s experience is different, many share the same reality—long days of uncertainty, emotional highs and lows, and hope carried by a dedicated care team.
For the DeTar NICU staff, those experiences leave a lasting impact—one that extends far beyond a patient’s time in the unit.
“Caring for these babies has shaped who I am as a nurse and a person,” said Kim Hoefling, RN, C-ELBW, DeTar Women and Children’s perinatal educator. “The impact they have had on me is immeasurable. Seeing them grow and get stronger every day is proof of their resilience. It’s a privilege to be trusted to share their journeys alongside their families. We celebrate each milestone together as the days pass, and the bonds we build with the families are just as meaningful as the care we give.”
That sense of connection is something shared across the NICU team, where resilience is witnessed every day.
“Being a NICU nurse, I have seen our tiniest infants make amazing strides during their time in the NICU,” said Lisa Davila, NICU RN. “They are some of the strongest patients I have ever taken care of. It’s incredible how such tiny, fragile humans can be so resilient. Every day, I’m grateful to be part of their growth and recovery, and to help prepare both babies and their parents for the transition home.”
“These children and their families stay with us long after they leave the unit,” Bradshaw said. “We don’t think of them as past patients—we think of them as part of our extended family. When they come back, it feels like welcoming families home.”
Throughout the celebration, NICU nurses and staff reconnected with families they once supported through critical early days. Now, those same children ran through the halls, shared snacks, posed for photos, and played alongside the very team who once cared for them in incubators.
For neonatologist Girish Gowda, M.D., the reunion offers a rare and meaningful full-circle moment.
“Events like our NICU Homecoming are incredibly rewarding because we get to see the long-term impact of the care provided during those critical first days,” said Dr. Gowda, neonatalogist with DeTar Hospital North. “We meet these families during some of their most uncertain moments, so to reconnect and see these children healthy, active, and thriving is both humbling and deeply fulfilling for our entire team.”
The reunion also underscored the importance of having high-quality neonatal care close to home. For Crossroads families, DeTar’s Level II NICU allows parents to remain nearby during treatment—avoiding the added stress of traveling far from home during an already overwhelming time.
Dawn Jimenez, BSN, RN, NICU manager at DeTar, shared, “Being able to provide this level of care locally changes everything for families. It means parents can stay close, stay involved, and stay connected during one of the most vulnerable times in their lives. That connection is powerful—it supports healing in ways that go far beyond medicine.”
This year’s NICU Homecoming included family photos, refreshments, and emotional reunions between staff and families. Many parents brought printed photos of their children from their NICU stay, holding them beside the vibrant, energetic kids they are today—a powerful contrast that told the story of survival and growth.
Local photographer Danny Vivian captured the day, documenting embraces between nurses and families, children playing freely, and moments of gratitude that lingered in every corner of the room.
“There’s nothing quite like seeing these families again,” one parent shared. “You remember how scared you were—and then you look at your child now. It feels like a miracle you get to celebrate with the people who helped make it possible.”
For DeTar Hospital North, the NICU Homecoming is more than an event. It is a reminder of resilience, community, and the quiet strength of families supported through some of life’s most uncertain beginnings.
From tiny patients to thriving kids, the stories continue—long after discharge, and long after the NICU doors close.
Back