Published on September 29, 2025
Sweet Celebration at Annual NICU Reunion
Owensboro Health Regional Hospital was filled with joy and color as families gathered for the annual Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Reunion on September 28. This year’s theme, Candy Adventures, transformed the space with gingerbread houses, giant lollipops and gumdrops—creating the perfect backdrop for photos, games, activities and plenty of sweet treats.
The reunion welcomed NICU graduates and their families to reconnect with the physicians, nurses and care team who once cared for their tiniest loved ones. Since opening 15 years ago, the NICU has served nearly 4,500 families, and each reunion is a chance to celebrate those remarkable stories of resilience.
Attendance was strong this year, with more than 800 people registered—including around 260 NICU graduates—and even more who came without registering. For many parents, the event is not just a chance to see familiar faces, but also an opportunity to meet other families who share similar journeys.
“Our nurses do everything we can to make a NICU stay feel as normal and special as possible. Whether it’s celebrating a baby’s first bottle with a sweet picture, decorating for holidays or creating handmade name signs for each little one, we want families to feel included in every milestone—even if they can’t be there in the moment,” said Stephanie Tuell, NICU Nurse Manager.
The NICU reunion is also deeply meaningful for staff. Families return with thriving children, offering nurses a glimpse into the lives they helped begin. “The NICU can be a stressful place for parents, so we look for ways to bring joy into the experience. From dressing babies up for Halloween to Easter Bunny visits, these moments give families happy memories to hold onto alongside the hard ones,” Tuell added.
This was the second year the reunion returned after COVID-19. Moving forward, the annual celebration will be held each September.
Watch a video recap below:
About Owensboro Health
Owensboro Health is a nonprofit health system with a mission to heal the sick and to improve the health of the communities it serves in Kentucky and Indiana. The system includes Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, nationally recognized for design, architecture and engineering; Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital; Owensboro Health Twin Lakes Medical Center; the Owensboro Health Medical Group comprised of over 350 providers at more than 30 locations; four outpatient Healthplex facilities, a certified medical fitness facility, the Healthpark; a weight management program, and the Mitchell Memorial Cancer Center.
On average each year, we have more than 19,000 inpatient admissions, deliver 2,000 babies and provide the region’s only Level III NICU. Owensboro Health physicians perform nearly 33,000 surgical procedures, including nearly 150 open-heart surgeries. Our physicians and staff have 90,000 Emergency Department visits and more than 1.25 million outpatient visits annually. Visit our home page for more information.