Trinity Health is getting ready to have a party!

April will bring a special reunion for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

The NICU reunion is a chance for families who spent time there to reconnect with doctors and nurses...people who in many cases helped save the life of a little one.

Perry Olson has more in today's Eye on Health.

This is not how life is supposed to begin...in an isolette...in intensive care...somestimes life itself in jeopardy...but nearly 13 percent of babies will start life here, in the NICU. Most get stronger and survive...growing into healthly, energetic kids kids the NICU staff hopes to see this spring...

"We are inviting parents to send us the story of their baby! We want pictures and the story of the baby and how the baby is doing and the things that helped them get through."


A NICU reunion is planned for April 4th at Jim Hill Middle School in Minot.

"I am hoping that those families out there who have had a baby in our NICU will come join us. We look forward to seeing them and I also hope they will join us for the March for Babies because I have come to realize over the last few years how much the March of Dimes does for premature babies."


That organization's big fundraiser starts at 10 that morning at Jim Hill...Dr. Thomas Carver knows just how vital the March of Dimes is...funding research that has led to some big breakthroughs even when he was first starting in the field ...

"The nurseries I was in back then all seemed to have a baby who was a year of age and was still on a vent and that doesn't happen much anymore."


That is thanks to the production of artificial surfactant...something that allows premies to breathe easier...Many of those premies will be back, big and strong in April for the March...and NICU reunion...

"It is a stressful time for the family and I feel that our staff does a great job in helping families cope with this."


This day will be anything but stressful...rather a celebration of life. To sign up for the reunion...visit TrinityHealth.org. For March for Babies information, visit MarchForBabies.org. With your Eye on Health, Perry Olson, KX News. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list