Staff Report

ROCKFORD – SwedishAmerican Hospital is calling all graduates from its Special Care Nursery (SCN) and brand new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for a reunion Saturday, Aug. 24, at Camelot Tower parking lot, 1415 E. State St.

The annual event will run from 10 a.m. to noon. This year’s reunion will feature a princess and pirate theme and include graduates from the Level III NICU, which opened in May.

The reunion provides an opportunity for SwedishAmerican SCN and NICU staff to see how far some of the tiniest and sickest patients have come, and families will have a chance to reunite with the nurses and doctors they grew close with during their time at SwedishAmerican.

“Our annual reunion is always very meaningful, and this year it will be extra special with the recent opening of our NICU,” said SwedishAmerican Pediatrics and Special Care Nursery Manager Paula Culvey. “Our staff and providers are thrilled to reunite with the patients and family members who spent time in our unit. They were together during very difficult and stressful times, and it’s important to have this celebration to reconnect and recognize how far they’ve come.”

The reunion will provide entertainment and activities for children of all ages including a photo booth, temporary tattoos, face painting, balloon animals, interactive games and more. Every princess and pirate will also receive their own tiara or pirate hat they can decorate.

Refreshments will be provided, and every participant will walk away with a gift and have a chance at winning a Target gift card.

In the event of rain, the party will move inside in the Heart Hospital first-floor conference rooms.

SCN and NICU families are asked to RSVP by Wednesday, August 21.