NICU Family Collective to host inaugural reunion in Wilmington

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The NICU Family Collective will host its first NICU Reunion next month, bringing together families, health care providers and others connected to the neonatal intensive care unit community.

The event is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 20, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Plaza on Princess in Wilmington. It is being held during NICU Awareness Month.

Organizers say the reunion is intended to give NICU graduates and their families a chance to reconnect, celebrate milestones and recognize the providers and community members who supported them.

“NICU families often leave the hospital with an incredible amount of gratitude, but also with a story that can be difficult for others to fully understand,” NICU Family Collective founder Ellison Clark said in a statement. “The NICU Reunion is a chance for families to come together and celebrate that shared experience—to see familiar faces, make new connections, and recognize that they are part of a community that understands.”

The event will include family activities, opportunities for families to connect and ways to commemorate their NICU experiences.

The NICU Family Collective is an independent nonprofit that serves families connected to the Betty H. Cameron Women’s & Children’s Hospital NICU at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. The organization provides resources including caregiver meals, peer mentorship, educational materials and other forms of support.

The reunion is free, but advance registration is required because space is limited.