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Newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Franciscan Health Crown Point had a special visit this week from Dr. Brett Galley, a neonatologist from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. Dr. Galley donned a Santa suit to bring holiday cheer to his young patients and their families.
"I do this every year to bring a sense of normalcy and holiday joy for families that are stuck in an unplanned situation here in the NICU and just to bring a little bit of that Christmas joy to them that they otherwise might miss being here within the walls of the NICU," Dr. Galley stated.
Families had the opportunity to take pictures with Santa, marking their babies' first Christmas despite being hospitalized. Elyse Nelson, whose son Henry was born early on December 9, 2024, expressed appreciation for the event: "We’ve been looking forward to this," said her husband Justin Nelson. "Being in here and having something to look forward to has been really nice."
Solange Regalado celebrated her son Leo's discharge on the day of Santa's visit. "It's a nice little Christmas gift, going home," she remarked.
The partnership between Franciscan Health Crown Point and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital began in fall 2022, bringing top-tier neonatology services to Northwest Indiana through staffing by Lurie Children's specialists like Dr. Galley at the hospital's Level III NICU.
In July, this collaboration expanded with the addition of a pediatric hospitalist from Lurie Children's serving young patients at Crown Point hospital.
Further information about Franciscan Health Family Birth Center Crown Point is available online or via phone at 219-757-6330.
