Approximately 15 percent of babies born will require treatment in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The babies are treated for a variety of reasons: prematurity, heart problems, birth defects, breathing irregularities, infections and more.

Texas Children’s Hospitals, including the west campus that serves Katy, treat hundreds of infants each year through their state-of-the-art NICU.

These babies struggle in their first moments of life, but most go on to live full, normal lives when they leave the NICU.

On Aug. 17, Texas Children’s Hospital celebrated the 2018 NICU graduates, their families, and the doctors, nurses and staff who worked tirelessly to help the infants.

According to Veronika Javor of Texas Children’s Hospital, “Hundreds of children and families reunited with Texas Children’s Hospital doctors, nurses and caregivers at a ‘Made in Texas’ themed NICU reunion… that celebrated former patients who graduated from the hospital’s NICU in 2018.”

The parents of the babies shared their experiences during their childrens’ treatment. The families, who had once endured the nightmare of having a critically-ill child, celebrated the triumph of seeing their children overcoming life-threatening conditions.

They also had the opportunity to reconnect and thank the doctors and nurses that were responsible for saving their childrens’ lives.

“Families enjoyed delicious BBQ, games for babies and toddlers, face painting, a photo booth, airbrush tattoos, tricycle rides and dancing,” Javor added.

Texas Children’s Hospitals, including the west campus, comprise the nation’s largest NICU.