What once began with beeping monitors, whispered prayers, and moments of terrifying uncertainty has become a celebration of resilience, gratitude, and life itself. Each year, families whose babies fought for survival in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB Health) return not as patients, but as proof of what compassionate care can make possible. On April 18, 2026, those journeys came full circle as nearly 50 families gathered at UTMB for the 16th annual Preemie Reunion Prom — an emotional homecoming that honors the fragile beginnings, fierce determination, and lasting bonds formed during the hardest days of their lives.
Doctors and nurses who once monitored every breath of the hospital’s smallest and most fragile patients were joyfully reunited with children who have grown and thrived. The gathering reflected how far each family has come, and the lasting connections forged during those first, often frightening days.
In 2023, Felecia Caismere’s daughter, Barrnique, was born unresponsive at UTMB Angleton Danbury campus at 33 weeks’ gestation.
“She was brought to UTMB at Galveston from birth until January 2024,” Caismere said. “She has hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a brain injury caused by a lack of oxygen during birth. We were always treated like family at UTMB. In fact, it has become like a second home. I thought I would have to give my child back because they fell in love with her.”
Barrnique receives ongoing medical care at UTMB Health to help her continue reaching developmental milestones.
Emily Guajardo of Pasadena said her son, Santiago, was born under frightening circumstances on June 29, 2025.
“I had a placental abruption and had to have an emergency cesarean section at 4 a.m., and the first thing he did when the pediatrician put a finger in his mouth to clear it was bite it,” she said. “They said, ‘He’s a spicy one! He is a fighter, so we know he will be fine.’”
Santiago spent 87 days in the NICU. Guajardo said the family returned to see the doctors and nurses who helped them through such a difficult time.
“We will always remember Dr. Maria Franco-Fuenmayor, who was so reassuring and calming, and all the nurses who adore my baby,” she said. “He’s now doing great and is on track with all his milestones for his adjusted age. This event will be an annual family tradition.”
When Blanca Araujo, an administrative assistant in the Department of Pediatrics at UTMB, was admitted during her second trimester, she was experiencing severe pregnancy complications.
“I had preeclampsia and hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count, also known as HELLP syndrome,” she said. “Even though they stabilized me, I was told my baby was seriously at risk.”
Despite the anxiety surrounding his premature birth, Araujo gestured happily toward her son Emiliano, now a healthy, energetic 7-year-old playing with other children at the event.
“He was born at 25 weeks, and we spent more than four months in the NICU,” she said. “It was very stressful and traumatic for our family. I was so worried about how I would care for everyone. He got such great care, and as long as it had to happen this way, I would not change anything.”
She added that her family has attended the Preemie Reunion every year since 2019 so the doctors and nurses who cared for him can see him grow.
Dr. Mazen Al-Nabelsi, a first-year fellow in neonatology and perinatology who did his pediatric residency at UTMB Health, said he attended the event because he enjoys seeing patients he treated as a new resident.
“Seeing them from the moment of their birth and then seeing them now is as rewarding as it gets,” Al-Nabelsi said. “In neonatology, you spend so much time with patients and families, and this is why I chose this specialty. There is a beautiful feeling in helping someone who needs it, and you see the impact of your care immediately.”
He said the babies are fighters from the moment they are born.
“I can talk for hours about why I love this specialty,” he said. “I came to see these babies growing, and I can remember some of their histories week by week.”
Laura Courtney, a NICU nurse at UTMB for 12 years, helps organize the event each year.
“It’s so nice to see the families and the babies growing up,” she said. “We love the babies. This is why I am a NICU nurse."