Advocate Good Samaritan patients, caregivers reunite at event

DOWNERS GROVE - Hundreds Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital physicians, nurses and team members came together with families whose lives have been changed by the care of the hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the 25th annual NICU Reunion and Children's Safety Fair Aug. 26.

For more than two decades, NICU "alumni" and their families have reconnected with the professionals who care for some of the most vulnerable patients to come through the hospital's doors.

Kathy Forner, the manager of the NICU and Family Care Unit, said many families have come to the event since the beginning.

"So many of our caregivers are still friends with patients who came through our unit years, even decades ago," Forner said. "Receiving and giving a high level of compassionate care can really forge a bond, especially now with social media allowing people to connect over time and distance."

This year, fair-goers enjoyed carnival games and visits from some of Good Samaritan's valuable community partners, including the Downers Grove Fire Department, Wheaton Police Department, a local S.W.A.T. team and more.

It was also a particularly celebratory year for many after the grand opening of the hospital's new, state-of-the-art NICU in June.

"We appreciate the parents and patients who continue to come back each and every year to reconnect with their caregivers," said Dr. Vinhaben Thaker, neonatologist at Advocate Good Samaritan. "We learn so much from them and enjoy seeing them grow and succeed in life."