NICU Nurses Turn ‘Ugly’ Christmas Sweaters into Unforgettable Family Memories
- Nurses and caregivers at the Cleveland Clinic Children's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit dressed infants in "ugly" Christmas sweaters and crocheted hats.
- Sweaters included snowmen, gingerbread men, and festive flamingos.
- Casey and Tyler Graber, whose daughter Ava has been in the NICU for over 100 days, will always cherish the memories of dressing their daughter for her first Christmas.
Holidays are a time for families to gather, but this Christmas, some of the tiniest babies are spending the season inside Cleveland Clinic Children’s NICU.
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To help spread cheer and to make their first Christmas memorable, the staff dressed some of the patients in ugly holiday sweaters. In a joint effort between nurses and families, each baby was dressed in a crocheted hat and felt holiday sweater. The families get to keep the outfits as a reminder of their first Christmas together.
Source: Fox8
Casey and Tyler Graber, whose daughter Ava has been in the NICU for over 100 days, were grateful for the unforgettable moment. “We loved seeing Ava in her holiday outfit,” the couple said. “It was the perfect mix of sweetness and fun. It’s a memory we’ll share with family and Ava for years to come.”
Babies wore sweaters decorated with:
- Snowman
- Christmas trees
- Gingerbread men
- The Grinch
- Festive flamingo
- Fishnet-stockinged leg lamp from A Christmas Story
“Sharing these special moments with families brings a sense of joy and normalcy during an otherwise challenging time,” said Therese Razzante, NICU family support specialist at Cleveland Clinic Children’s. “These celebrations help parents embrace milestones, build meaningful connections, and reflect the unwavering compassion of our caregivers in the NICU.”
Source: Fox8
The Cleveland Clinic NICU is a Level IV, state-of-the-art 17-bed intensive care unit at the main campus. There are Level III NICUs at the ancillary Cleveland Clinic hospitals, including:
Gestures like these bring a little light and laughter to families facing an incredibly difficult season, offering a brief sense of normalcy and joy while their babies continue to receive lifesaving care in the NICU.
🤔Nurses, have you helped bring holiday cheer to your NICU? Share your ideas below.
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