NICU Dream Becomes Reality

Children's National recently celebrated the opening of its new state-of-the-art 54 bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.  Shortly after the grand opening celebration, friends and family watched as Masud and Cidalia Akbar participated in a ribbon cutting of a parent transition sleep room, named in their honor. The transition room allows parents to spend the night with their preemie to ensure their comfort level in preparation for the family going home.

Additionally, Cidalia and her sister, Natalia Luis Monteiro, both donors and dedicated volunteers, partnered with Michael O’Neil, founder & CEO of the GetWellNetwork, to extend availability of the network to the NICU. Available in all patient rooms, GetWellNetwork is an interactive patient care system that enables families to learn more about their baby’s medical condition, collaborate with caregivers, and secure helpful resources during their stay.

"I would like to thank Natalia and Cidalia from all our staff and families.  I know we will think of them every day, especially when we see one of our parents using the incredible GetWellNetwork system," remarked Dr. Billie Short, chief of neonatology at Children’s National.

Many donors helped make the new NICU facility possible from naming parent rooms, to supplying giraffe beds and rockers, to providing furniture for the sibling play area.  

The new unit is approximately four times larger than the current space, which admits more than 800 patients annually.  

Read more about the new NICU.