On Friday, nurses, family, and friends celebrated Halloween a day early in the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania’s Intensive Care Nursery (ICN).
Although many of these babies were born with very low birth weight or health problems and need special attention before they can go home, their parents and ICN staff dressed them up in costumes and held a party in their honor!
“It gives the families a chance to celebrate their child’s Halloween in a positive light, no matter what they are going through,” said Megan Fulmer, BSN, RN, a clinical nurse in the ICN. “They connect with other families who are going through similar experiences here in the neonatal ICU.”
The party is possible through donated funds set aside for families to celebrate holidays while their children are in the ICN.
“As nurses, it gives us a chance to connect with these parents on a different level,” Fulmer adds. “Their babies look adorable at all times, but now we all can experience this extra special moment.”
Alexander Glen is one of those babies. Born three months early, he was dressed as an orange caterpillar, outfitted with spots and antennae.
Even on Halloween, Alexander Glen’s therapy plan is in full effect, including receiving soft touch in his mother Sarah’s arms and being read to by his father, Nick, for 20 minutes a day.
“We clear that pretty easily,” said Nick, who is already through the third Harry Potter book and Peter Pan, and shared the children’s version of Sleepy Hollow during the party. “There’s a lot of good vibes going around, everyone is happy and excited and it feels good to have a sense of normalcy.”
The party is a nice morale boost for the nursing staff, as well.
“I’m thinking where these babies have been during their early days and now I’m watching families celebrate,” said Anastasia Goldman, RN, a staff nurse in the ICN. “Unfortunately, these little guys have had a rough start and are celebrating Halloween in the hospital, but for a brief moment, we can look at the patients beyond just clinically and more as a regular healthy baby.”
“You’re only going to have your first Halloween once,” Fulmer said.
For more coverage of the ICN’s Halloween party, check out Penn Medicine’s Facebook page and Philadelphia Magazine’s “Be Well Philly” blog post.