In this episode of the NICU Alumni Podcast, Andrea speaks with Samantha Vaquerano and Karen Rodriguez from Kids Lab Therapy about the importance of early intervention for children who have graduated from the NICU.

We discuss the various ways families can support their child's development, the significance of monitoring developmental milestones, and the role of advocacy in ensuring that parents feel empowered in their child's care. Our conversation emphasizes the need for parents to trust their instincts, seek multiple perspectives from specialists, and utilize resources available to them as they navigate the journey from NICU to home.

More information and links to the resources we mentioned during the episode can be found here! (update article link)

Let's stay in touch!

You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and our website, www.nicualumni.org.

You can also support our mission and help create brighter futures for babies that have graduated from the NICU (who we affectionately refer to as NICU Alumni) and their families by donating here.

The purpose of this podcast is for entertainment only and should not be viewed as medical advice.

In this episode of the NICU Alumni Podcast, host Andrea Hickson is joined by co-authors Emily Souder and Mahaley Patel to talk about the lasting impact of NICU experiences on families.

Together, they reflect on grief, healing, and how storywork can help parents process these experiences and emotions. The conversation highlights the duality of grief and gratitude, the importance of community support, and the creation of Your NICU Story Book, a meaningful resource for families navigating life after the NICU, available now.

More information and links to the resources we mentioned during the episode can be found here! (update article link)

💛 Content note: This episode includes discussion of child loss and may be emotionally triggering for some listeners. Please care for yourself as you listen.

Let's stay in touch!

You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and our website, www.nicualumni.org.

You can also support our mission and help create brighter futures for babies that have graduated from the NICU (who we affectionately refer to as NICU Alumni) and their families by donating here.

The purpose of this podcast is for entertainment only and should not be viewed as medical advice.

This is the first episode in a two-part podcast series, From Discharge to Home: Insights for Providers and Families, brought to you in collaboration with AngelEye Health. This series was created to provide insights for both healthcare providers and families navigating the NICU discharge process.

Our goal is for the series to be educational, informative, and empowering; emphasizing how technology, like AngelEye’s NICU2Home, along with NICU Alumni’s support, can help families and care teams during the critical transition after graduating from the NICU, to going home, and beyond.

Part 2: Patent Perspectives on Improving NICU Discharge Planning

In Part 2, Andrea Hickson and Jaylee Hilliard, both two-time NICU moms, discuss the family perspective, their NICU experiences, and what it was like after they got home, sharing personal stories and insights.

More information and links to the resources we mentioned during the episode can be found here!

Let's stay in touch!

You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and our website, www.nicualumni.org.

You can also support our mission and help create brighter futures for babies that have graduated from the NICU (who we affectionately refer to as NICU Alumni) and their families by donating here.

The purpose of this podcast is for entertainment only and should not be viewed as medical advice.