Some NICU Parents Work To Give Back With Race This Sunday

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The day a baby is delivered is one the parents will remember forever--but for some, the day turns even more stressful because their newborn has to be rushed to Neo-Natal Intensive Care.

Mike Schuh explains some NICU parents are giving back.

There is hope everything goes well for an expectant mother, but 10 percent of the time, that doesn't happen.

When he was a week old, Holden had respiratory distress, so now he's at GBMC's Neo-Natal Intensive Care.

Two years ago, Talan was in one of those beds. He was born nine weeks too soon. For his parents, Derek and Karin, his birth was their second visit to this NICU. The first was with twins.

"Both our twins, Chance and Everly, passed away so we never got to take them home," Derek Palmer said.

But during that time, they stayed at the hospital and didn't pay a dime at the room. It was covered by money raised by the Friends of the NICU--so now they're giving back.

"We were the top fundraiser last year and hope to be this year," said Palmer.

They raised $2,300 for this weekend's GBMC 5K NICU race.

So where does the money go? Look at GBMC NICU rooms. The equipment is staggeringly expensive--about $500,000--and they have 12 rooms.

"The technology to care for them is quite expensive so we appreciate the help of the community," said Dr. John Chessare, GBMC President/CEO.

GBMC's leader reminds us that this place started out as a woman's hospital.

"And we are here to do precisely this, to serve patients in need and little preemies are among the most focused-on groups," said Chessare.

"I can't imagine doing it without them," said Palmer.

And little Holden? He went home on Wednesday.

That race/walk is Sunday, Father's Day, at 8 a.m. The walk-up registration cost is $40.

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