Virtua Health Nurse Armi Delfierro (left) prepares Mason Zuno's hand for a painting project during Virtua Health’s NICU reunion. His parents are Robin, left, and Vincent.
Jackie Chinnici said the joy of becoming a mother was ever-so-slightly tempered when she began experiencing severe preeclampsia roughly nine weeks before her due date.
"I was admitted to the hospital at 29 weeks," the Washington Township resident told 70and73.com. "We were trying to hold (my baby) in until 34 weeks, but my water broke, so we did an emergency C-section. She weighed 2 pounds and 14 ounces and was 31 weeks and 5 days old."
The baby, Lucy Chinnici, who Jackie said spent 50 days in the Virtua Health neonatal intensive care unit in Voorhees, is now a thriving 6-month-old starting to eat solids.
Pete, Lucy and Jackie Chinnici at the Virtua Health NICU reunion.Â
Lucy is one of hundreds of babies born inside the walls of Virtua Health hospitals in Voorhees, Camden and Mount Holly who, for one reason or another, spent time in the hospital neonatal intensive care unit, according to Nancy Corn, a Sewell resident who has been a neonatal nurse with Virtua for about 25 years.
About 600 children like Lucy, whom the health system affectionately calls NICU babies and on Sunday ranged in age from a few months to around 10 years, and their families attended the Virtua Health NICU reunion with the health system nurses, doctors and other staff members at its Voorhees campus.
Coree Cappuccio, of Franklinville, who has worked as a nurse for Virtua Health for nine years, said the event she helped organize with Corn provides positive professional reinforcement.
"There are families from the reunion two years ago that see my face, come up to me and remember me, which is huge to me," Cappuccio said. "Some kids are 7 now, and they remember me. It is really heartwarming to know that I made such a difference in someone's life."
As she looked around the event that was unfolding around her, Corn said: "This is why we come to work every day. It really is. It's the most rewarding day you could ever want to be a part of. It’s absolutely amazing."
For former NICU baby Mason Zuno of Hammonton, it was a chance to leave his mark on a poster featuring the handprints of other former NICU babies. For Benjamin Laino of Easthampton, another former NICU baby, it was a chance to pet a therapy dog named Scarlet.
The Bennett family poses for a picture during the Virtua Health NICU reunion. From left, front, La'Mona and Lalani and Danielle and Lamont.
Danielle Bennett of Browns Mills said her daughter La'Mona Bennett, another NICU baby, was on a ventilator for roughly a week shortly after birth and is now a vibrant 3-year-old. After she, La'Mona, her other daughter Lalani Bennett and her husband Lamont Bennett posed for photos in a makeshift photo booth, Danielle said she attended the reunion to celebrate La'Mona’s resilience.
The Sunday reunion also featured face painting, bounce houses, miniature train rides, music and refreshments. Several organizers told 70and73.com the event, which has been held every two years for about 25 years, except during the pandemic lockdown, was the largest NICU Reunion ever.
