Annual Party Celebrates Children’s Lives

By Jennifer L. Warren

NEWBURGH – The gratitude can be seen all over the faces of Denise Saroda and Dave Sinanan.

When the Washingtonville parents were faced with their son Daniel being born at 27 weeks, weighing just two pounds and 15 ounces, they didn’t know where to turn for answers to his serious medical issues.

“No one could figure out why he was born so early,” recalled Saroda. “We weren’t expecting to have any problems as first time parents, and it was really a scary, hard time.”

Fortunately, there was a place, as well as many people who could help. The couple was directed to the National Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital. Here, little Daniel was to stay for 72 days, remaining on an incubator for almost a month, while receiving around-the-clock, loving care.

“They did everything for him, constant monitoring, so he could breathe, gave him caffeine, as well as a feeding tube,” explained Saroda. “If it wasn’t for our being so close to Newburgh and the staff providing everything for Daniel as well as for me, I don’t know what would have happened.”

Now, at age four Daniel is thriving, a happy, energetic, and regular boy, who was all smiles Saturday at the Newburgh Armory Unity Center, where he joined several other children and teenagers, along with their families, for the Annual NICU Graduate Birthday Party celebration of lives. Additionally marking the 21st Anniversary of the Elaine Kaplan NICU at the Hospital, the well-attended (over 200 RSVP’s) event, all community-donated (including food, a balloon artist, DJ and other fun activities), served multiple purposes.

“It’s a chance for families to come back and see Dr. K.P., the founder of the program, and all of the nurses who cared for their babies,” said Kate Dabroski, Vice President, Marketing, Public and Community Relations for St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital. “It’s also a chance to celebrate the children’s thriving lives as well as a community celebration of all our families – our way of saying thank you to them for choosing St. Luke’s as the place to care for their loved ones.”

Among the families in attendance was also the Walsh family. Using the NICU’s services for two of their children, Racquelia (now 10 (months old) and Micquela (now seven years old), they too could not feel more fortunate that both are now successfully thriving. Both born to C-sections, the children stayed at the NICU for five days where they were assisted with their respiratory issues and put back on track.

“It’s not always easy to know your child needs extra care, but to have the services available at St. Luke’s, and all the staff, including Dr. KP, is just so comforting,” said father Michael Walsh. “He is just so full of expertise and such a big part of the success of that Center.”

Dr. KP, who so many families in attendance Saturday could not say enough complimentary words about, was on hand at the Armory, interacting with, hugging and chatting with the continual line of people who approached him. Like Denise Saroda and Dave Sinanan, each person was forever grateful to him and his staff for returning their children to them, healthy and happy. That feeling of appreciation went two ways. Dr. KP, involved with the NICU for all 21 of its years, surveyed all of the joy surrounding him inside the Armory Saturday, noting.

“It’s so gratifying to see all these sick and physically ill newborns now running around, walking and smiling.”