Photo Album on Facebook

A Tootsie Roll candy. A construction worker. A bag of popcorn. A French fry.

These were just a few of the adorable costumes Freeman Health System’s tiniest patients were sporting Wednesday during the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit’s annual Halloween party at Freeman Hospital West.

In all, nearly a dozen NICU infants were spruced up in colorful, handmade costumes, which included two color crayons, twin brother and sister, and two popular Disney characters—Anna from “Frozen” and Princess Moana, with her father dressed as Maui. 

This NICU tradition allows the infants the opportunity to celebrate their very first Halloween away from home while creating lasting memories for the parents and families watching over them.

“Children’s Miracle Network is honored to provide Halloween buckets and trick-or-treat bags each year to our Freeman NICU and pediatric families,” said Izzy Medrano, Freeman’s Family Relations Coordinator.

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at Freeman Health System raises funds each year to purchase equipment and medical supplies for the NICU.

“We love spreading Halloween magic to our tiniest and most courageous patients,” Medrano said.

This year’s costumes, 23 in total, were lovingly pieced together by six Joplin High School juniors and seniors from Alicia Zustiak’s art class.

“Our JHS Art Department Head, Lacey Santillan, shared this opportunity with me and my Fiber Arts students,” Zustiak said. “The students were immediately all in on the idea. They had so much fun thinking about what the parents would like to see as a costume and what stories they would share when the babies grow up. It was a really unifying experience for our students." 

Seeing local kids lend a helping hand to other kids in need, Medrano said, “makes the babies’ first Halloween truly special and memorable.”