NICU families and staff to gather for annual reunion

By Sara Beth Williams–
In honor of NICU Awareness Month, Dignity Health Mercy San Juan Medical Center is hosting an annual reunion for NICU “graduates” and families at Rusch Community Park.

Dignity Health announced the planned reunion in a press release and said 30 to 50 families who had children in the NICU are anticipated to gather and reunite with Mercy San Juan Medical Center NICU staff on Saturday, Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Ashleigh Flores was one of the “graduates” from the NICU at Mercy San Juan Medical Center. Flores, 32, was born at 28 weeks and spent two months in the NICU. according to the press release. Due to complications at birth, Flores was born with Cerebral Palsy.

Flores is now pursuing veterinary medicine and is a PhD candidate at UC Davis. Her mom, Brie Simmons, was also inspired to become a registered nurse in the NICU at Mercy San Juan, according to the press release.

The event will include food and many activities for kids, including face painting, shaved ice, a visit from a Sacramento Metro Fire District fire truck, and two mini ponies who specialize as therapy animals, according to Lindsay Leszczynski, Communications Manager with Dignity Health.

“Our annual NICU reunion is a heartwarming celebration that brings together our resilient graduates and the dedicated care team who supported them through their earliest days,” said Holly Garrett, BSN, RNC-NIC, C-NNIC, and C-ELBW from Mercy San Juan Medical Center. “This event not only honors the strength of these remarkable children and their families but also reinforces the special bond formed during their NICU stay.”

The history of NICU Awareness Month can be traced back to 2014, when the nonprofit organization Project Sweet Peas established the month to raise awareness of the challenges faced by NICU families and medical professionals.