The kids are alumni of the Elaine Kaplan Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. They were born prematurely and in their early days they may have struggled to stay alive. Now they’re strong and healthy. Once a year, the hospital’s foundation invites them and their parents to a party. This year’s event was held on July 13 at the Newburgh Armory Unity Center.
It’s a good event. Families can enjoy a buffet lunch; they can decorate cupcakes, or stand in line at the ice cream wagon. There are balloons that can be twisted into animals and a DJ who plays fun music (such as “Cotton-Eyed Joe” and “YMCA”) without taking a break.
Saturday afternoon was our second time covering the party. We were still a bit naive. “Who pays for all this?” we inquired.
Ann Marie Schoonover was surprised we didn’t know. She’s an officer of the Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital Foundation. “Why nobody pays for it,” she told us. “Everything is donated.”
As you would expect, attendance is good. The large room is filled. Kids seem excited to be there. They probably don’t know one another. But that doesn’t get in their way. We saw them line dancing together and strutting across the room in what looked like a conga line.
There have been 22 parties and Jill Cappa has chaired 12 of them. Some of the earlier gatherings were held at Ice Time, Chadwick Lake and Thomas Bull Memorial Park. Now the event seems to have a permanent home at the Unity Center.
The guests include several nurses from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit as well as its director, Dr. Prabhakar Kocherlakota — known to everyone as “Doctor KP.” Throughout the afternoon, he stood at the door and chatted with several families.
We meant to ask him if he remembers these people from when their children were his patients. But it’s a good thing we didn’t, because we asked the question last year.
At the time, Kate Dabroski (a hospital vice-president) said the answer might be “yes.” She said, on the second Sunday in May, the doctor calls all the women he’s helped to wish them a happy Mother’s Day.
We stayed just long enough on Saturday afternoon to marvel at the kids romping across the front of the room. Despite their problems at birth, they seemed as strong and as healthy as other youngsters their age.
