TUPELO, Mississippi—The North Mississippi Medical Center Women’s Hospital invites all Neonatal Intensive Care Unit “graduates” and their families to a reunion from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25.

Held in the courtyard area at Women’s Hospital, the event offers refreshments and family fun. This year’s theme is “Every Miracle Has a Story,” and children are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes.

A group photo will be taken at 12:15 p.m.

NICU Awards will be presented at 12:30 p.m.

A butterfly release is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. to remember the little ones who lit up our lives, no matter how briefly.

Participants are encouraged to donate new or gently used children's books to benefit NICU families. Each NICU baby will be given a book to keep. Books may be dropped off at the NICU Reunion or anytime at the front desk of NMMC Women's Hospital, 4566 S. Eason Blvd. 

Organizers say the main draw is to see the progress these children have made. 

“Our staff becomes extremely attached to these babies because many of them spend a great deal of time in our intensive care nursery before they are able to go home with their parents,” says Ellen Friloux, NMMC vice president of Women and Children’s Services.

The NICU team plans this event together to make it as much fun as possible for former patients and their families. Staff members who work closely with the infants and their families say it’s like planning an event for a huge extended family.

The 34-bed intensive care nursery treats patients born at the NMMC Women’s Hospital as well as those transferred in from other area hospitals by neonatal transport ambulance. Approximately 500 infants are admitted to the NICU annually, with many of them transported to Tupelo from area hospitals. The neonatal transport team includes registered nurses who specialize in neonatal intensive care as well as respiratory therapists.

For more information on the NICU Reunion, call 1-800-THE DESK (1-800-843-3375).