Nurse reunites with preemie she cared for in the NICU 21 years ago

One New Jersey recently family had a touching reunion with the NICU nurse who helped save their premature daughter's life 21 years ago. That preemie — now a young adult — sought out the nurse at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital in Neptune, New Jersey to tearfully express her gratitude.

Key Takeaways:

• Madison Kennedy was born in 2004 at just 22 weeks gestation.

• She was cared for in the NICU by nurse Janine Buggle.

• The Kennedy family credits Buggle for helping to save Madison's life.

• For Madison's 21st birthday, she tracked down Buggle and expressed her thanks in a heartwarming reunion.

The Details:

A feature in the Asbury Park Press detailed the touching encounter, in which 21-year-old Madison Kennedy and her family tracked down nurse Janine Buggle to express their thanks.

After 21 years, 'preemie' meets Jersey Shore nurse who kept her alive

Madison was born in 2004 at the Jersey Shore University Medical Center at just 22 weeks gestation, weighing 1 lb., 3 oz. Buggle was her primary care nurse in the NICU. As Madison's mom, Christine Kennedy, explained, there were many moments when they were unsure if Madison would survive.

“We were told, ‘We don’t know if she’ll make it through the night,'” Christine recalled. “I would go home and call all night long. These nurses take phone calls from us all day and night, and they take them and they never made us feel stupid. We’d come in the next day and they were like, ‘Guess what, she survived!'”

Christine explained that Madison had severe lung problems due to her early arrival, and was on a respirator for four months. However, despite a number of medical complications, she pulled through — thanks in part, to her NICU team, which was headed by Buggle.

Zoom In:

Madison told Asbury Park Press that meeting Buggle and thanking her was "a bucket list item." Christine was able to arrange a heartfelt reunion with Buggle in time for Madison's 21st birthday.

Christine tearfully embraced Buggle, thanking her for caring for Madison.

“Not a day went by when we didn’t think of you,” Christine told Buggle. “We want you to know how special you are.”

“It was coming home almost, seeing a lost family member,” she explained. “Because to us she’s part of my family — someone who played such a significant part of Madison’s life, we can’t forget her. The NICU nurses take care of these babies as if they are their own.”

Buggle was touched that the family would go out of their way to find her. “It’s surreal,” she said. “The fact that she sought out to find me, it’s just the most touching thing in the world honestly. It fills your heart with so much gratitude, that I was able to be there for her.”

The Bottom Line:

The family's gratitude illustrates how even the smallest babies can be given a fighting chance when they receive quality care.

“It helps these nurses to know that the work they did, here’s the end result,” Christine said. “It gives a lot of hope to everyone. It’s a beautiful thing."

“It’s really a full-circle moment,” Madison added. “She took care of me as a baby, she helped me survive, and now, seeing her as a 21-year-old is crazy. I don’t think I would have made it if it wasn’t for her.”