May 10, 2012 | Hundreds of former patients and their families joined 50 doctors, nurses and volunteers for the first on-campus reunion in 10 years of babies who graduated from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that specializes in the care of premature and/or sick newborn infants at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).

“Infants can remain in the NICU anywhere from one day up to six months,” said Alexandra Warner, who works as a bedside nurse at UAMS. “We form real bonds with our patients and their families. This party helped us reconnect and have some fun!”

Popular singing duo Brian and Terri Kinder entertained guests who had crowded into the UAMS Hospital Lobby and Gallery. Children danced, clapped their hands and ate cupcakes as the Kinders performed their original music.

“Next year we anticipate it will be even bigger,” said Rebecca Sartini, clinical services manager of the NICU. “We are lucky to have the UAMS NICU Family Advisory Council and we are looking forward to them taking a stronger role in planning next year’s reunion.”

A PowerPoint slideshow featured the faces of the NICU graduates whose families were also able to connect through a UAMS NICU Facebook fan page where families have shared enthusiastic comments like “The reunion was wonderful!”

Whit Hall, M.D., neonatologist and professor of pediatrics in the UAMS College of Medicine, engaged with the UAMS NICU Facebook fans, too. “Wow!!!! That is the best way to describe today,” wrote Hall. “It was amazing! I am very sad that I did not have more time to spend with each of my very special babies… However, just seeing how well everyone is doing made my year.”

Sartini says the reunion was so successful she expects it will become an annual event.