WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Former NICU babies were reunited with their caregivers on Saturday.

For over 25 years, the MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center Neonatal Intensive Care Unit has organized an event like this.

“It’s exciting. We spend so much time with these patients. They’re with us for several months at a time. We get really attached to some of these families, and it’s really rewarding as nurses to get to see how they’ve progressed,” said Shawna McDonald, the NICU Manager at MercyOne.

Around 250 families registered for the event. It took place at the Valley Community Center in West Des Moines.

Apart from reuniting with their former nurses, kids also got to meet Disney characters like Mickey and Minnie Mouse and Cinderella. There were other activities like face painting and temporary glitter tattoos. MercyOne also made a Christmas tree skirt with hand or foot prints of the former patients.

Emily Schmidt is one of the parents who attended. Her daughter, Adalyn, is a graduate of the NICU program.

“[The nurses] were such a huge part of why she’s doing so well today, and so it’s exciting to see them,” she said.

Resources for parents were also available, like the organization Holding Tiny Hands.

“The current system is designed in a way where the babies are taken care of. We never have to question when mom or dad goes home if the babies will be taken care of because they have the support that they need. Where the support is needed is in the parents, not just in the NICU but even when they go home,” said Damian Beard, the director of Holding Tiny Hands.

Beard is a parent of two children, Ellie and Beckham, who were both NICU babies. The two were also in attendance at the event.

“I’m excited for seeing the princesses and going in the bouncy house and playing in the gym,” said Ellie.