Littlest survivors return to hospital to party

Jan Reynolds had just a few minutes of free time in between her steel drum band's set.

"I'm trying to mingle with as many parents as I can," the Central DuPage Hospital nurse said Sunday during a reunion of the Winfield hospital's littlest patients. "Lots of these parents spent weeks to months in the hospital, coming back day after day."

About 150 families attended the hospital's annual reunion of patients who have spent time being treated in the neonatal intensive care unit on Sunday. Most of the children, who spent the day running around in Halloween costumes through the hospital cafeteria, were born premature and spent the first weeks of life being treated in the hospital ward.

"Each of these kids touch our hearts," said Jeff Loughead, the medical director of the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit. "It's so rewarding to see these kids come back healthy and happy. It's a chance for the parents to brag about them ... and it shows that we've been doing our job well."

Sunday's reunion was the first for Anna Wittman of Orland Park. Her 10-month-old daughter Carlyn was born at only 24 weeks and spent four months in the hospital.

"It was a scary experience," Wittman said. The family has since spent time sharing their story on behalf of the March of Dimes.

Dan Bailey of Schaumburg has been returning to the hospital's annual reunions with his three children for each of the six years since they were first born at the hospital.

The 6-year-old triplets, Connor, Paige and Erin, spent their first 100 days within the intensive care ward.

"We became very friendly with the entire staff during that time," Bailey said. "We split our time at the hospital, so (my wife) got to know the day nurses, and I knew all the night staff. They were like our second family."