Heartwarming Reunion: Cook Children's NICU Connects Former Patients, Families, and Caregivers

For infants admitted to Cook Children's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), a stay of any length – days, weeks, or even months – fosters lasting connections between the patients, their families, and the compassionate care teams.

The Cook Children’s NICU hosted its annual reunion on Sunday, April 6 to celebrate those connections. Over 490 attendees joined staff members for the rodeo-themed occasion. Everyone dressed in costumes representing their favorite animal, cowboys and cowgirls.  

The event allowed Cook Children’s former patients and their families to reunite with their care teams, including nurses, physicians, therapists, child life specialists and more. The care teams spend a significant amount of time with their NICU patients and their families while they’re admitted to the hospital and they always look forward to seeing how the former patients are doing after they are discharged from the medical center.

The NICU reunion also marks milestones and celebrates the achievements and successes of each patient.

About Cook Children's NICU

Cook Children’s NICU is designated a Level IV NICU, which is the highest level of neonatal care for medically fragile babies. Our NICU offers 106 beds in 99 rooms, including rooms designed for twins, triplets or quadruplets. The unit hit an all-time high of 101 infants in January 2024 – evidence of the North Texas region’s population growth and our medical center’s impact on the community.

We provide advanced technology and access to specialists including cardiology, genetics and neurology. Emergency surgery can be performed without having to leave the unit. The NICU care team also includes lactation specialists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, respiratory therapists and social workers. Watch a video tour or call 682-885-4375 to speak with a member of our team.