Bridgeport Hospital’s Preemies Reunite
By Tony Spinelli, Connecticut Post, Bridgeport
Dec. 3–BRIDGEPORT — Bridgeport Hospital’s Newborn Intensive Care Unit hosted its annual holiday reunion for former patients — many of whom were born prematurely — and sure enough, a bunch of them showed up early.
By 2 p.m., the announced starting time of the party in the hospital’s lobby on Grant Street, dozens of small children were already bopping around, taking in the sights and sounds of strolling magicians and kiddie song entertainers.
The babes in arms kept pouring in and soon the place was packed — no surprise because the hospital had invited the families of more than 800 children who have received care in the unit during the last three years. That includes children who were born with critical care needs as well.
Jason and Susan Slattery, of Fairfield. brought their three sons, Ryan, 4; Jack, 2; and Luke, 8 months — all of whom were born prematurely at the hospital.
The couple wasn’t certain why their children were consistently born prematurely, but they were glad the hospital was there to help.
“He’s a healthy one,” Susan Slattery said of her youngest, who bounced in her arms at 21 pounds.
He had been born at 6 pounds, 4 ounces — pretty big for a premature infant.
“We’ve got three big boys,” Jason Slattery said.
While the Slattery boys enjoyed some chocolate chip cookies, Joshua Moores, of Monroe, talked about how he had been born prematurely at the hospital 20 years ago.
He is now a healthy 185 pounds, working at UPS loading trucks.
“I was short when I was young. It made me feel different than the other kids,” said Moores, who is now average height.
His mother, Tina, nodded.
“It was touch and go when he was born,” she said, referring to her son’s health. He had come about two months early.
“But here he is,” she said, proud of her full-grown son.
The staff mingled with Moores and the crowd and talked about how the annual reunion is as special for them as it is for the families.
“It gives us great satisfaction as health care professionals to see that the premature infants we once cared for have grown into healthy children,” said Nina Hyde, the advanced practice registered nurse who is the Newborn ICU nurse manager.
Bridgeport Hospital’s NICU provides the highest level of care available in Fairfield County to premature and critically ill infants, said John Cappiello, spokesman for the hospital. In addition to highly skilled nurses, technicians, respiratory therapists and other health care professionals, he said the unit has a team of neonatologists who specialize in the care of critically ill newborns.
The unit cared for nearly 300 infants during the past year, some weighing barely more than a pound, Hyde said.
The NICU opened in 1972. Many mothers with high-risk pregnancies choose to deliver at Bridgeport Hospital because of the clinical expertise in prenatal and neonatal care, said Robert Herzlinger, M.D., the Newborn ICU’s medical director.
“Many others with normal pregnancies choose Bridgeport Hospital as a precaution, just in case a higher level of care is needed for mother or baby,” Herzlinger said in a statement.
Tony Spinelli, who covers regional news, can be reached at 330-6361.
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