MGH staff turn NICU stays into holiday photo ops for families
Registered nurse Mariah Arlin and photographer Jeffrey Andree lead holiday shoots that give parents and infants in the neonatal intensive care unit a reason to smile.
By Nia Foster ·
Massachusetts General Hospital staff dressed neonatal intensive care unit patients in costumes for Halloween and other holidays this year. The initiative aims to provide families with positive memories during medical treatment.
The hospital’s NICU is a high-stress environment where every milestone matters. Staff members maintain costume traditions to offer celebration and relief to children and their parents.
Mariah Arlin, a registered nurse who wore a shirt reading "NICU boo crew" for the event, said parents often experience trauma from their time in the unit. She described the effort as a way to create happy recollections in a difficult setting.
Jeffrey Andree, a member of the hospital's photography department, has captured these holiday images for years. The work became deeply personal after his daughter spent nearly a month in the same unit more than a year ago.
Andree noted that having a child in such a unit is challenging. He said the smiles from parents and kids, along with the reaction from staff, serve as a major morale booster for the team.
Andree’s daughter is now 19 months old and recovering well. The hospital continues to share photos of costumed babies with the public each Halloween and during other seasonal events.
Source: WBTS-CD
