Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s & Children’s Hospital Celebrates NICU Graduates at Bayou Bash Reunion
May 23, 2025
LAFAYETTE, LA – On Sunday, May 18, Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s & Children’s Hospital hosted a heartwarming Bayou Bash NICU Reunion at Moncus Park, bringing together NICU graduates, their families, and healthcare teams to celebrate the incredible journeys of these young patients. The event featured snacks, activities and games. Graduates also enjoyed the Interactive Water Adventure, which Our Lady of Lourdes Health partnered with Moncus Park on to create in 2022.
The Level III Surgical Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s & Children’s Hospital has been serving patients in Acadiana for over 40 years. With a 51-bed unit and a multidisciplinary team, the NICU cares for over 600 babies annually, providing specialized care and support.
Additionally, as part of our Advancing Acadiana plan, our NICU is currently undergoing an expansion to include private family rooms. This enhancement will provide a more comfortable and personalized environment for patients and their families, ensuring the highest level of family centered care.
Alesha Alford, VP of Women's and Children's Services, shared, "The NICU Reunion is a testament to the resilience and strength of our NICU graduates and their families. It’s a joy to see how far these children have come and to celebrate their milestones with the dedicated healthcare teams who have supported them every step of the way."
In addition to all the activities, families had the special opportunity to reconnect with over 40 NICU physicians, nurses and other members of their care teams. The event hosted 53 families which include 60 NICU graduates and was reminder of the remarkable progress of these patients.
Looking ahead, Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s & Children’s Hospital plans to host the NICU Reunion event annually, providing more opportunities for connection and celebration. If your NICU graduate and family were not able to attend this year and are interested in finding out more about future NICU Reunions, email Communications.Lourdes@fmolhs.org.
About Our Lady of Lourdes Children's Health
Our Lady of Lourdes Children’s Health is part of a collaborative, coordinated, and child-focused health network that provides patients with more access to physicians and providers specifically trained to care for children. The network includes hospital-based services at the main campus of Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s & Children's Hospital in Lafayette as well as Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, St. Francis Pediatrics in Monroe and Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health Bogalusa. It also connects pediatricians, pediatric specialists and other health providers across our state with clinics across the Acadiana region, Baton Rouge, Hammond, Lake Charles, and Monroe. This model of coordinated pediatric healthcare extends vital resources into more communities across Louisiana so families have greater access to expertise close to home. Discover more at LourdesRMC.com.