Former patients and their families revisited Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital for the unveiling of the newly-made over Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The families were the first to tour the NICU’s “Walls of Hope,” a series of before and after photographs highlighting some of the unit’s tiniest and sickest newborns who have grown into thriving infants, toddlers and children.
The “Walls of Hope” photographs were taken by Brittani and Corey Oliver of Brittani Louise Photography and underwritten by Paige and John Wolf of the Jack Wolf IV Memorial Foundation, both former NICU families who generously support the unit.
“The transformation of our NICU is simply inspiring,” says Children’s Services Director Liz Kutchback, RN, BSN, “Our staff and our patient families have and continue to be impacted positively by these touching and inspirational photos made possible by the Wolf Family and the Oliver Family.”
Wolf and Oliver Families with Liz Kutchback
Pictured (L to R): Remi Wolf with dad (John), mom (Paige), and big brother Max, along with photographer and mom Brittani Oliver holding son Cullen, and Children’s Services Director Liz Kutchback, RN, BSN holding Brittani’s daughter Presley. Not pictured is Corey Oliver who also assisted with the NICU photography project. The Oliver twins were born at 29 weeks gestation.
Greg Edmonson, Age 11
Pictured (L to R): NICU nurse Sheri Fogarty, 11 year-old Greg Edmonson and mom (Stacey) in front of Greg’s photo of hope in the NICU. Greg was born at just 29 weeks gestation.
NICU Family on Day of Discharge 2012
Pictured (L to R): Baby girl Ainsley Hildebrand with mom (Michelle) and dad (Jeff) looking over her crib in the NICU on their last day in the unit. Ainsley was born at 26 weeks gestation and was in the NICU for two and a half months. Michelle is a registered nurse at Memorial Hermann Southwest, and both she and her husband, Jeff, were amazed and inspired by the Walls of Hope photos spread throughout the unit. “We both teared up when we saw the before and after photos installed. Our hope is even stronger that Ainsley will continue to grow and flourish like many of the premature children cared for here.”
