October 14, 2011

Riverside, CA—October 12, 2011 --The sound of laughter filled the air this past Saturday, as more than 1,200 guest including NICU graduates and their families, attended Riverside Community Hospital’s 4th bi-annual NICU Reunion. Past patients had the opportunity to be reunited with the staff and physicians who cared for them while in Riverside Community Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit.

The reunion took place on Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm, in the Physician’s Parking Lot at Riverside Community Hospital.

Children enjoyed a day of activities including a petting zoo, face painting, crafts, a cake walk, photo booth, food and more. A special thanks to the NICU Reunion Committee Team, who not only made this event a success, but have made a difference in the lives of the families who attended.

For the Salazar family, attending Riverside Community Hospital’s Bi-annual reunion was more than a day of fun. It is a time they look forward to, giving them the opportunity to visit the staff and physicians who saved the lives of their three children. Emilio, who is 12 years old, was delivered at 22 5/7 weeks and spent four months in the neonatal intensive care unit. Jordan, who is 10 years old, was also delivered early at 27 weeks. Angelica, the youngest, was born at 24 weeks. At the reunion, Tavia, the father of the three children, expressed his utmost appreciation for all that the staff did for him and his family during these very stressful times of their life.

The Riverside Community Hospital’s Level 3B Neonatal Intensive Care Unit serves infants born between 22-24 weeks of gestation and later. A transport team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to travel to hospitals throughout the region to pick up and stabilize infants needing specialized intensive care. For more information call 951-788-3000.