CHOP NICU families celebrate Halloween with baby costumes

Philadelphia, PA. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia hosts an annual Halloween celebration for families currently in its neonatal intensive care unit. The event allows parents to dress their infants in costumes, such as superheroes and skunks, providing a moment of celebration separate from daily medical care.

For Liz Jung, the holiday marks a special time for her daughter, Nellie. Nellie was born in March and has undergone four surgeries since birth. These procedures include airway reconstruction and open-chest surgery.

Jung explained that the hospital calendar for NICU parents is typically filled with upcoming procedures and doctor conversations. She noted that when child life staff offer a fun event, it feels meaningful. "What marks your calendar as a NICU parent is when is the next procedure? When is the next surgery? When's that next big conversation with a doctor? So, when child life or the hospital offers an opportunity to put something on your calendar that's more of a celebration and more fun, it's really meaningful," Jung said.

Nellie required a ventilator until April, when she received a major airway reconstructive surgery. She has been recovering since that procedure. This weekend marks her first Halloween.

The costume tradition helps parents feel connected to the wider community despite their hospitalization. Jung said, "And of course, you create a new definition of that when you're a NICU parent and a NICU baby, but to really connect with the greater community of the world. It allows you to feel part of that despite being able to engage directly."

Another patient, Penelope, is scheduled for discharge this weekend. She will leave the hospital to spend Halloween with her older sister.