Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital celebrated its 45th anniversary Sept. 10 with a Parisian-market-themed picnic featuring French foods, mimes, children’s activities and a history of nursing tent. 

On hand to celebrate were a number of young “alumni” of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), who had a chance to reunite with the nurses and doctors who cared for them as newborns. 


In the NICU Reunion tent, NICU nurses Sheila Odom (pictured at right, bottom left) and Cathy Brooks (bottom right) celebrated with Sam Dalseide (center), age 8.  A NICU “graduate,” Sam was born at 25 weeks.  He and his nurses were joined by St. Mary’s administrators (top row, left to right) Florence Nezamis and Sister Tess Horvath.  Horvath, who is currently vice president of mission at St. Mary’s, was recently chosen to join the leadership team of the Holy Union Sisters and will soon relocate to Rome. 


Also in the NICU tent, Dr. Karen Wharton (pictured below, at left) reunited with NICU “alum” Lily Hennessey, age 3, and her mother, Anne.  Lily was born at 26 weeks, and Wharton was among her caretakers.  

The young and young-at-heart enjoyed hula-hoop and limbo contests, face-painting, clowns, and mimes.

The picnic also featured visits from Bon Secours mascot Bonnie, and from Children’s Museum of Richmond mascot Seymour, who tried his hand (or is it paw?) unsuccessfully at hula-hooping.