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NEED TO KNOW
- A group of babies at the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) have been dressed in “ugly” Christmas sweaters
- One sweater is snowman-themed, and another features a nod to the iconic fishnet-stockinged leg lamp from A Christmas Story
- “Sharing these special moments with families brings a sense of joy and normalcy during an otherwise challenging time,” a Cleveland Clinic NICU specialist said
A group of babies are marking their first Christmas in a special way, thanks to efforts made by an Ohio-based medical facility.
The Cleveland Clinic Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) has dressed the children up in “ugly” Christmas sweaters to help spread cheer amid the holiday season, as the infants continue to receive aid after their births.
A joint effort by parents, nurses and caregivers, each baby received their own special attire — crocheted hats and felt sweaters — which their families will get to keep.
Among the festive sweaters is a snowman-themed one, as well as another of a partially-eaten gingerbread man.
One other featured a nod to the iconic fishnet-stockinged leg lamp from the holiday classic, A Christmas Story.
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Annie O’Neill; Cleveland Clinic
Casey and Tyler Graber’s daughter Ava has been in the hospital for more than 100 days after her birth.
“We loved seeing Ava in her holiday outfit. It was the perfect mix of sweetness and fun,” the couple said in a statement, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
“It’s a memory we’ll share with family and Ava for years to come,” Casey and Tyler continued.
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Therese Razzante, the NICU family support specialist at the Cleveland Clinic, added, “Sharing these special moments with families brings a sense of joy and normalcy during an otherwise challenging time.”
“These celebrations help parents embrace milestones, build meaningful connections and reflect the unwavering compassion of our caregivers in the NICU,” Razzante further explained.