Celebrating Survival: NICU Families, Physicians Reunite at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital

When Joey Scorpio was born on Sept. 5, 1995—nearly five weeks before his due date—doctors told his parents that his chances of survival were bleak.

Roseann was treated as a high-risk patient at  after going into labor at just 26 weeks. Doctors were able to maintain the pregnancy through her 36th week, but the baby—Joann's third—continued to have issues developing.

"Joey was 6.5 pounds when he was born, but his lungs were severely underdeveloped," Roseann said. "He was having trouble breathing, and his right leg didn't even have a pulse." 

With no circulation in the leg, doctors braced Roseann for the possibility of amputation.

"It was a nightmare," she said. "His life had barely begun, yet they were telling me he probably wouldn't walk."

Joey stopped breathing seven times in his first 24 hours. It happened three times the next day, but eventually he began to bounce back.

"They were finally able to get the circulation in his leg, but they told us he'd have trouble with his motor skills and that he'd probably never run," Roseann said.

Joey underwent therapy for months to learn how to swallow and strengthen his right leg. By the time he was old enough to walk, he was keeping pace with his two older brothers.

Today, Joey, 16, runs—and skates—faster than most people he knows. He plays varsity hockey at Fenwick High School in Oak Park, and is ranked among the top players in the state. Forest Park students also attend this school.

On Sunday, Joey and Roseann joined hundreds of families at Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove for the 19th annual "NICU Round-Up," an event that reunites former patients of the neonatal intensive care unit with physicians, nurses and hospital staff.

"The staff here was incredible when Joey was born, from the emotional support to the care they provided," Roseann said. "We thought it was time to finally come back so the doctors could see how well he's doing."

During the event, Joey was reunited with his neonatologist, Dr. Michael Fitzgerald.

"We showed him some pictures and told him how well I'm doing with hockey and everything," Joey said. "I don't really remember him, obviously, but the fact that he remembered me was really special and just a great experience."

The neonatal intensive care unit at Good Samaritan treats more than 300 premature and critically ill babies each year. For doctors like Fitzgerald, the NICU Round-Up offers a rare opportunity to catch up with hundreds of former patients that spent their first days, weeks and months fighting for their lives.

"This event is really special for us because these patients are like family," Fitzgerald said. "To see these children thriving and excelling in sports and school makes our job worthwhile. That's what it's all about."

Peggy Farrell, manager of the NICU and pediatric unit at Good Samaritan Hospital, said the reunion is often an emotional and therapeutic experience for the families and hospital staff.

"It's rewarding for us to see the kids doing well, but I think it's also a healing experience for the families," Farrell said. "To be able to come back and show us the progress they've made—that they beat the odds—it's an overwhelming, unbelievable thing to experience."

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