(Joplin, MO) – A Tootsie Roll candy. A construction worker. A bag of popcorn. French fries.
These were just a few of the adorable costumes Freeman Health System’s tiniest patients were sporting on October 29 during the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit’s annual Halloween party at Freeman Hospital West.
In all, nearly a dozen NICU infants were spruced up in colorful, handmade costumes, which included two color crayons, twin brother and sister, and two popular Disney characters — Anna from Frozen and Princess Moana from Moana, with her father dressed as Maui.
This NICU tradition allows the infants the opportunity to celebrate their very first Halloween away from home while creating lasting memories for the parents and families watching over them.
“Children’s Miracle Network is honored to provide Halloween buckets and trick-or-treat bags each year to our Freeman NICU and pediatric families,” said Izzy Medrano, Freeman’s Family Relations Coordinator.
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at Freeman Health System raises funds each year to purchase equipment and medical supplies for the NICU.
“We love spreading Halloween magic to our tiniest and most courageous patients,” Medrano said.
This year’s costumes, 23 in total, were lovingly pieced together by six Joplin High School juniors and seniors from Alicia Zustiak’s art class.
“Our JHS Art Department Head, Lacey Santillan, shared this opportunity with me and my Fiber Arts students,” Zustiak said. “The students were immediately all in on the idea. They had so much fun thinking about what the parents would like to see as a costume and what stories they would share when the babies grow up. It was a really unifying experience for our students.”
“Seeing local kids lend a helping hand to other kids in need,” Medrano said, “makes the babies’ first Halloween truly special and memorable.”
About Freeman Health System
Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center — the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services — as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. In 2020, Freeman earned dozens of individual awards for medical excellence and patient safety from CareChex®, a quality rating system that helps consumers evaluate healthcare providers. U.S. News & World Report named Freeman Health System the Best Hospital in Southwest Missouri for 2020. With more than 320 physicians on staff representing more than 80 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, children’s services and women’s services. Additionally, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com.
Reference:
Kevin McClintock, Media Relations Coordinator
Freeman Health System
417.434.3458
KSMcclintock@freemanhealth.com
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