Loyola Premies to Dress Up for Halloween

MAYWOOD, Ill. -- Little ghosts and goblins will descend on Loyola University Health System’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) this Halloween when the hospital’s smallest patients don costumes created by the nurses. “Our nurses have been making costumes for our patients for more than 30 years,” said Elaine Trulis, RN, manager, NICU. “We look forward to this tradition every year, because it helps to bring joy to these parents who are coping with a great deal.” NICU nurses will spend their free-time this week making these custom-made costumes. In the past, costumes have ranged from little princesses to cowboys to vampires. Other favorites have included a pint-size Harry Potter and Howard Stern. “The costumes have become increasingly more elaborate over the years,” said Robin Todus, RN. “We have even added some humor to this tradition and found that it helps to lighten the mood.” Faith Garza will be among the NICU patients who will be dressed for the occasion this Saturday. Todus, her primary nurse, created a homemade ladybug costume for her. “Her parents decorated her home nursery in ladybugs,” said Todus. “I wanted to take this idea a step further by creating a costume that complements this theme.” Heidi Garza delivered daughter Faith on Sept. 4, 14 weeks premature. Her little one was just two pounds and 14 ½ inches long at birth. Today, Garza is thriving. She has doubled in size, and her nurses expect her to go home shortly after she celebrates Halloween at Loyola. “We are so grateful to these nurses for their creativity and compassion. They have truly become a second family to us, and I look forward to sharing this Halloween celebration with them,” said Garza. “We also have gotten to know the other families well, because we spend so much time together. These costumes will give us all a sense of normalcy as our babies get stronger and prepare for the transition home.”