Pam Jones reflects on NICU Journey at Mount Sinai South Nassau

Pamela Jones of Valley Stream had no reason to believe her pregnancy would be anything but routine. Her journey through the first two trimesters was textbook perfect. But at around 29 weeks, her blood pressure readings began to spike. Diagnosed with preeclampsia, Jones found herself in uncharted territory.

“At 30 weeks, my blood pressure was still rising,” she recalled. Her medical team at Mount Sinai South Nassau made the decision to admit her to the hospital. The goal was to keep her stable until 36 weeks, but at 32 weeks, things changed. “I started experiencing more severe features of preeclampsia, and the doctors decided the best course of action for both me and my baby was to deliver her via C-section.”

Thus began Pamela’s unexpected and emotional journey into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), a place no parent anticipates in their birth plan.

Her daughter, born prematurely in January 2022, needed specialized care in the NICU. Despite the inherent stress of the situation, Jones remembers being reassured from the very beginning.

“The NICU team was fantastic,” she said. They came into my room in labor and introduced themselves, explaining how they’d take care of my daughter once she was born. They were just amazing from the start.”

Jones expressed immense gratitude to the NICU and labor/delivery teams at Mount Sinai South Nassau for the exceptional care they provided during such a challenging time. “No parent expects their child to end up in the NICU, but the staff made all the difference. They not only cared for the babies but also for the parents.”

While the early days were difficult, Jones recalls the deep sense of partnership between parents and the medical team. “Even though I couldn’t take my daughter home right away, I was still her advocate. Parents are a vital part of their child’s care team.”

Today, Pamela’s daughter is a thriving, energetic toddler. Though the NICU experience was difficult, Jones takes comfort in knowing her daughter received the best possible care during those fragile early days.

Following her daughter’s discharge in February 2022, Jones and her family were invited to Mount Sinai South Nassau’s first annual NICU reunion that September. These reunions bring together NICU “graduates” and their families to reconnect with the doctors and nurses who cared for them.

For Jones, attending these reunions has become an annual tradition. Children and their families enjoyed an afternoon filled with fun activities, great food, sweet treats, and animals. The celebration included arts and crafts, a visit with Chase from Paw Patrol, a magic show, Music Therapy, playing rubber ducky match and getting their faces painted. There was plenty of scrumptious food and tasty sugary treats for everyone, including pizza from Pies-on Wheels; kids’ chicken meals from Chickies, as well as cookies and ice cream from Mr. Softee.

“This was our third time attending, and it’s always such a special event,” she said. “It really feels like a family reunion. It’s an opportunity to catch up with the incredible doctors and nurses who were there for us during such a pivotal time.”

This year, Pamela took her involvement one step further by volunteering on the event’s planning committee. She felt compelled to give back to the NICU community that had been such a source of support for her.

“I had such a positive experience, despite the challenges, that I wanted to pay it forward. As a parent who’s been through it, I think it’s important to provide that perspective to other families.”

As Pamela continues to stay involved in the NICU community, she is already looking forward to next year’s reunion.

“We’ll keep coming back as long as they’ll have us,” she said with a smile. “It’s such a joy to see everyone again, and to watch all the kids grow up.”

For Pamela, the NICU reunion is a chance to celebrate not just her daughter’s journey but also the resilience and dedication of the doctors, nurses, and families who make up the NICU community.

“The care we received at Mount Sinai South Nassau was extraordinary, and I’ll always be grateful for that. Attending the reunion and serving on the committee is my way of staying connected to that community and giving back in whatever way I can.”