News 'Graduates' of Seton's Neonatal ICU Gather for Picnic in the Park

AUSTIN, TX - (April 20, 2009) - Despite threatening weather, more than 650 staff, volunteers, babies, and family members attended the 34th Marialice Shivers Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Reunion on Saturday April 18th. This special event offered children who were cared for in the NICU, along with their families, a chance to reunite with their NICU doctors and nurses.

The birth of a sick infant is usually an unexpected crisis, creating unique stress on the family. Special bonds are often formed between family members and the physicians, nurses and NICU team while the baby grows stronger.

"These babies come into the world as fighters," said Susan Crane, RNC, Vice President of Neonatal Services for the Seton Family of Hospitals. "The NICU care team works with them to get them to feed and breathe on their own and gain the necessary weight for them to be able to go home with their families. This could take weeks or months. So it's wonderful that we get to see them and their growth since we last held them in our arms."

"The NICU Reunion gives us an opportunity to thank so many of the people who cared for our son, Luke, and enabled him to survive and thrive. Hopefully seeing all of the beautiful and vivacious children at the reunion gives NICU staff encouragement to carry on in their good but difficult work. And honestly, with so many anxious days spent while Luke was in the NICU, we, too are uplifted by seeing all of the other NICU graduates and their families celebrating life and having a good time," said Alyssa West, Luke's mother.

Luke, now 3 years old, was born at 27 weeks, weighing only 2 lbs 9 oz at birth, and spent about 73 days in the NICU.

This year Seton also unveiled the new design of the Neonatal Intensive Care and Maternal Transport ambulance. This impressive vehicle transport will provide enhanced services for high risk maternal and neonatal services for the 19 counties it serves.

The reunion picnic has grown considerably over the years. In 1975, 23 children and their families attended the first reunion. Last year, that number had increased to close to 900 graduates and family members.

The reunion included train rides, Blue Bell Ice Cream, moonwalks, arts and crafts and balloon sculpting.

The Marialice Shivers Regional Neonatal Center was the first of its kind in Central Texas. Originally the brainchild of Sister Mary Rose McPhee, Daughter of Charity, former Chief Executive Officer and longtime associate of Seton Medical Center, the Center has treated thousands of infants.

Then and Now
• In 1972, the first neonatologist Jacob Kay, MD, arrived in Austin. Today there are 12 neonatologists and 15 neonatal nurse practitioners who work at Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas, University Medical Center at Brackenridge and Seton Medical Center Austin.
• In 1975, the first neonatal reunion of babies cared for at Seton Medical Center was held, with 23 children and their families attending. In 2007, close to 900 graduates and family members attended the Neonatal Reunion.
• In 1976, Seton Medical Center had four beds in its neonatal nursery. Today there are 44 Level III beds.

Fast Facts
• The Center was spearheaded by former Seton Administrator Sr. Mary Rose McPhee, Daughter of Charity, and the late Dr. Jacob Kay, Austin's first neonatologist.
• There are more than 90 NICU nurses on staff.
• The Center admits approximately 600 babies every year.
• The Center sends a special team to transfer premature and acutely ill infants by STAR Flight or ambulance back to the Center.
• Seton Family of Hospitals is the recipient of the first Maternity Quality Matters Award given by Childbirth Connections. Seton received the award for demonstrating significant improvement in maternity care quality through measurement of performance, incorporation of evidence-based practice, and responsiveness to the needs of childbearing women and their families.
• Joint Commission named the Seton Family of Hospitals as a recipient of the 11th annual Ernest Amory Codman Award recognizing its success in reducing preventable birth injuries.