Last spring, twin daughters of Joe O’Leary, critical care transport registered nurse for PennSTAR, and his wife, Suzanne, arrived prematurely — at 25 weeks. The babies — Charlotte and Paige — spent three months in HUP’s neonatal ICU. “Aside from the outstanding care, the team provided a friendly face, a team to lean on, and eventually the greatest gift that we could ever ask for: two healthy girls,” O’Leary said.
To celebrate the girls’ first birthdays — and honor the staff — the couple recently donated three baskets of preemie-sized clothing, blankets, sleep sacks, and materials for making crib cards that display the baby’s name on their isolette to the unit, purchased by family and friends in lieu of traditional birthday presents.
“Blankets are used to cover the isolettes to help create a dark, quiet atmosphere for our preterm babies to grow. When they move to an open crib, the clothing and sleep sacks keep them warm and provide a safe sleep environment until they are discharged home with their families,” explained Kate O’Rourke, MSN, nurse manager of the ICN. “We appreciate their thoughtfulness. The supplies will help keep our babies currently in the ICN more comfortable.
“We sincerely feel that without the exception team of caregivers in the neonatal ICU, our children would not be where they are today,” O’Leary said.
Click here to read how the twins’ grandfather is also giving back to the ICN.