Hugs and Smiles

Inspira Health celebrates a decade of newborn care at Deborah F. Sager Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Inspira Health and Nemours Children’s Health celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Deborah F. Sager Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Inspira Medical Center Vineland with a carnival-themed reunion. NICU graduates and their family members, approximately 200 in all, attended the free event and reunited with the nurses, neonatologists and others who cared for them during their earliest and most fragile days.

Neonatologist Horace Ramdial, M.D., reconnects with the Enders family. Little Joseph spent time in the NICU in early 2020.

The day was filled with hugs and smiles, and a few happy tears, as NICU families reconnected with members of the NICU team. Photos were taken and stories were shared as the nurses, doctors and therapists had the rare opportunity to see—and hold—babies and children that they had taken care of, for days, weeks and even months. Carnival games, face painting, a magician, and a photo booth entertained the children and their families.

“It’s a great privilege to witness the coming together of our NICU families and NICU team. Strong bonds often form between our caregivers and families while they are in our hospital,” said Elizabeth Sheridan, regional chief administrative officer for Inspira Medical Centers Elmer and Vineland. “Our highly skilled NICU team, including neonatologists from Nemours Children’s Health and specially trained nurses and therapists, is here to provide comprehensive care and comfort to newborns and their families. At the Deborah F. Sager NICU, we strive to make you feel at home and part of the Inspira Health family during, and after, your stay with us.”

The Suriani family, whose twin boys Hunter and River are NICU graduates, enjoy the reunion.

“It is a blessing to see the positive impact that the Deborah F. Sager NICU has had on the families of this region,” said Penny Sager Rossi, founder of the Deborah F. Sager Memorial Fund. “The Fund has grown significantly in the past 40 years and has been able to donate over $700,000 to the Deborah F. Sager NICU since its inception in 2012. These dollars enable Nemours neonatologists, like Dr. Ashish Gupta, and Inspira’s professional NICU team to ‘make miracles happen’ by allowing these fragile infants to not only survive, but to grow and thrive.”

“The skill, dedication and love that goes into caring for the babies in our NICU is inspiring,” said Amy Mansue, president and CEO of Inspira Health. “We are so grateful to Penny and everyone who has supported the Deborah F. Sager Memorial Fund. Their generosity has helped us acquire the latest equipment and technology, which allows our amazing team to care for babies who require extremely complex care.”

Hugs and smiles ruled the day as Inspira staff and neonatologists reunited with the children and families they had cared for in the Deborah F. Sager Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Inspira Medical Center Vineland’s Deborah F. Sager Neonatal Intensive Care Unit cares for infants of any gestational age. Since opening in 2012, it has provided advanced care to more than 2,500 premature, low birth-weight and critically ill babies.

The Deborah F. Sager Memorial Fund (DFSMF) is a restricted fund of Inspira Health Foundation where earnings are used exclusively to enhance the delivery of medical care for the Deborah F. Sager Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and for all children at Inspira Health. Over the past decade, the DFSMF has made numerous vital contributions totaling more than $700,000 to the Deborah F. Sager Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Inspira Medical Center Vineland.

For more information or to donate to the Deborah F. Sager Memorial Fund, visit dfsmf.org or contact the Inspira Foundation at 856-535-9405.