Former preemies celebrate big at Town Center in Boca

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Sunday, August 26, 2018

BOCA RATON — 

Maele Hargett didn’t know how emotional Sunday morning was going to be for her, but she and her daughter had already been through a lot.

Hargett’s daughter, Ember, was born prematurely a year ago.

“She wasn’t breathing, had the cord around her neck, and I had an infection,” said Hargett, 41, of Delray Beach as she recalls the birth of her daughter a year ago. “They had to keep her for almost a month. She couldn’t eat on her own. It was a hard year.”

But the end of the year finished joyously with Ember joining Alessia, Paulina, Alen, and Paul among dozens of children who gathered Sunday morning at Town Center.

All of these kids were born prematurely, treated at the Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at West Boca Medical Center in West Boca. 

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The annual NICU reunion kicked off inside the food court with a live DJ, balloons, face painting, hula hoops and a large-sized ‘Operation’ game board. It was an opportunity for these children to meet each other and play games, as parents wrote “Thank You” messages to the staff that assisted them through grayer days. 

Ember Dorothy Brazier was born one month early with life threatening conditions. She was treated at Level III NICU in West Boca Medical Center in West Boca. Her mother was also treated for an infection during delivery.  (Maele Hargett)

Hargett was assisted by the staff at West Boca Medical’s NICU through 14 hours of labor and beyond delivery day as her daughter Ember was fighting to stay alive. Meanwhile, Hargett was accompanied by both grandmothers as Ember’s dad was out on a business trip and didn’t expect Hargett to go into labor so early. The baby was born a month early, weighing in at 5.9 pounds. Dad arrived the following day. 

Today, Ember is a healthy toddler, and on Sunday wore Hawaiian leis, face paint and a tutu for the big occasion.

Ember Dorothy Brazier, now 1 year old, at the Town Center in Boca during the NICU reunion. She loves music, dancing, and cuddling with her golden retriever named Retter. She loves her two cats, but they don’t like playing with her too much.  (Julio Poletti/ The Palm Beach Post)

“I was crying on the way here. I didn’t realize it would be so emotional,” said Hargett. “I’m hoping to see her nurses, and see if they recognize her.”

For baby Ember, today is a huge day -- it’s been exactly one year since she finally went home to her parents and her pets, Retter, a Golden Retriever, and two cats, Audrey and Mulvie. She also started walking less than 24 hours ago. 

But, the celebration wasn’t only for the babies and their parents. To staff members, seeing that these former patients are healthy is the reason they do what they do.

Meredith Haney, the Clinical Nurse Manager of Pediatric Services (middle) at West Boca Medical Center, greeted families Sunday during the annual NICU reunion at Town Center in Boca Raton. To the right, Maele Hargett, Ember’s mother.  (Julio Poletti/ The Palm Beach Post)

“This means everything to me. These babies are the most incredible clientele you could work with,” said Meredith Haney, West Boca Medical’s Clinical Nurse Manager of Pediatric Services. “They’re tough, much tougher than you would imagine. When we see these results and these happy families, it allows you to go back and do it again.” 

Alan and Maria Monica attended the NICU celebration Sunday hosted by the West Boca Medical Center with their triplets (left to right) Nicole, Alen and Isabel. They are 3 1/2 years old.  (Julio Poletti)

West Boca Medical treats mothers and their babies from regular check ups to very high-risk case though their Birth Care Pavilion and Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. 

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