Download a printable version of this blog post. For the past five years, WakeMed’s NICU has participated in the Kangaroo Challenge from Sunnybrook Hospital in Canada. This is an international challenge to see which hospital can log the most hours participating in kangaroo care. Each year for 15 days, we ‘challenge’ our parents with a […]
Harmony and Ian VanGundy were anxiously awaiting the birth of their third child in September 2017. Like their other two children, Allistair, age 3, and Gannon, 15, they were going to deliver at WakeMed, but this time they were going closer to home to the new WakeMed North Hospital in North Raleigh. Harmony was nine […]
*This article was written in collaboration with LaToshia Rouse with contributions from Jim Helm. The WakeMed NICU Advisory & Parent Support group (NAPS) has joined forces with the Development Team (Jim Helm, Laurie Slaughter, and Jennifer Powell) in the WakeMed NICU for “Extra Hand Hugs Week”. About Extra Hand Hugs “Hand Hugging” or “hand hugs” are […]
WakeMed NICU babies are in for a special Halloween surprise, thanks to the skills of a few parents and the fundraising efforts led entirely by former WakeMed NICU mom, Amanda Walker. Below, Amanda shares her NICU story and how these loving donations are making a big impact in the lives of our tiniest patients and their […]
When I initially found out I was pregnant with twins, I always knew there was a good possibility my children would be born prematurely, but I never was prepared for my boys to make their entrance 15 weeks early. I had a check up and ultrasound on May 30th. Both boys were growing well, and […]
My husband, Christopher, and I were elated when we discovered that we were expecting. Every doctor’s appointment showed that everything was progressing as expected, …but on Mother’s Day, I was in an ambulance on the way from WakeMed Cary to WakeMed in Raleigh with the certainty that this child that we had hoped and prayed […]
No matter the differences in medical complications or care between NICU babies, parents feel the same emotions: trauma, sadness, fear, guilt, happiness and most importantly love. An Unexpected Father’s Day Surprise My water broke unexpectedly on June 14th (my husband’s birthday), and I was rushed to WakeMed where they hoped I would stay for the next 7 […]
*This blog post was written in collaboration with Jim Helm, with contributions from Dr. James Perciaccante. Parents and caregivers recognize the importance and the positive impact that developmental care can have on the health and development of premature babies. The Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) is an approach to providing developmentally supportive […]
Every year during the fall, winter and early spring, we restrict visitation to our Children’s Hospital and our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The reason: to protect our patients from viruses like RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). You may have never heard of RSV, but there is a very good chance that you HAVE had it. For […]
Since the opening of the Children’s Hospital in 2010, we have been working with the Ronald McDonald House of Durham to provide a Family Room for Children’s Hospital families. This room has been a respite for hundreds of families over the past five years, offering a private, relaxing space to help them endure stressful situations. The room […]
