NICU babies in costumes mark first Halloween at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Families use annual costume event to celebrate milestones amid ongoing medical treatments for infants in the neonatal unit.
By Grace Anderson ·
Infants in the neonatal intensive care unit at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia are dressing up for Halloween this weekend. The annual event allows families to celebrate a seasonal milestone separate from daily medical routines.
Liz Jung’s daughter, Nellie, will mark her first Halloween in the unit. Nellie was born in March and has undergone four surgeries since birth. These procedures include airway reconstruction and open-chest surgery.
Jung stated that hospital calendars for NICU parents typically focus on upcoming surgeries or doctor conversations. She noted that a costume celebration provides a meaningful break from that routine. "What marks your calendar as a NICU parent is when is the next procedure?" Jung said.
Nellie remained dependent on a ventilator until April. She has been recovering since a major airway reconstructive surgery. Jung explained that the event helps her feel connected to the wider community despite her daughter's hospital stay.
CHOP holds the celebration for NICU families every year. For patient Penelope, the event occurs just before her scheduled discharge this weekend. She will leave the hospital to spend Halloween with her older sister.
