Oliver Ray Tanguay celebrated a big anniversary in style – with a Monty the Moose temporary tattoo.

August 9 marked five years since "Olly" came home from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Golisano Children’s Hospital at University of Vermont Health. That same day, he and his family attended the annual NICU reunion, joining dozens of other families reconnecting with those who provide critical care for the smallest patients.

“The love and the care, and the support they gave – it was just incredible,” says Joe Tanguay of South Burlington, Vermont, reflecting on his son’s monthlong stay in the NICU.

Annual NICU Reunion Brings Families Together

The NICU reunion has been bringing families and caregivers together for about four decades, with a brief pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event began as a holiday gathering at UVM Medical Center before finding its current home as a summer celebration at Shelburne Farms.

The gathering includes an appearance from Golisano Children’s Hospital mascot Monty the Moose, along with activities and treats for kids. It’s also a treat for NICU staff, who get to see their former patients and families in a much happier setting.

Vermont’s Only NICU Cares for 500 Infants a Year

Lisa Gibbs, who retired in June after 43 years as a registered nurse in the NICU, saw the unit and the number of children it serves grow significantly over the decades. Vermont’s only NICU now cares for about 500 infants each year, and a renovation completed last year added two private rooms for families.

With patients often staying in the NICU for weeks or months, Gibbs says, the bonds between caregivers and families are strong and lasting.

“The happiest day in the NICU, for all of us, is when a patient is discharged,” Gibbs says. “Families love to come back through this reunion, and it’s so exciting for us to see these kids grow.”

As her 2-year-old daughter, Molly, traded playful poses with Monty, Nya Aucoin of St. Albans, Vermont, reflected on the 90 days Molly spent in the NICU. She was born prematurely, at just 28 weeks.

“They took really good care of her,” Aucoin says. “It was a really scary time, but they made it better.”