Shares

A swarm of lady bugs and butterflies and a host of superheroes and colorful food costumes filled incubators in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Harris Health Ben Taub Hospital for Halloween.

Hospital staff and volunteers helped families enjoy the ‘trick-or-treat’ holiday with their babies.

While candy was off limits, babies dressed up in hand-made felt overlay or comfy costumes created by Harris Health System’s junior volunteers (teenagers).

For Angela Koerner, nursing director of the NICU, the project means a lot to the families.

“We’re helping create a sense of normalcy for the families and helping them make positive memories,” she said. “This is extremely important because it builds that bond between the family and the baby.”

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In most cases, babies and parents are separated for long periods of time.

Ben Taub Hospital’s NICU averages about 22-25 babies a day (a majority them born pre-term) with some staying in the hospital from one week to about 3-4 months.

“Parents want to contribute to their baby’s care, but feel helpless to do anything. By participating in Halloween, birthdays, milestones and other holidays, they build that connection with their child,” Koerner added.

Check out the video of some of the cute creations.

Happy Halloween everyone!