A North Carolina hospital is celebrating babies who are ending their stay in the neonatal intensive care unit.
The staff at CaroMont Health in Gastonia, North Carolina, honor their tiny patients with a special photo shoot and a graduation cap.
About six months ago, Nurse Melissa Jordan began the “graduation ceremonies” after she helped care for an infant who spent 62 days in the NICU.
On the day he was leaving, the baby’s parents dressed him up in a “NICU Grad” onesie, which inspired Jordan to continue the tradition.
“It’s an emotional roller coaster for a preemie,” Jordan, 28, told ABC News. “One day could be really happy and then another day there can be several setbacks. You have to be there emotionally for the parents and celebrate every single, teeny milestone.”
PHOTO: Neonatal nurse Melissa Jordan of CaroMont Health in Gastonia, North Carolina, celebrates the babies leaving the neonatal intensive care unit with a scheduled photo shoot and an academic cap. (Courtesy CaroMont Health)
PHOTO: Baby Sutton is celebrated the day he left the neonatal intensive care unit at CaroMont Health in Gastonia, North Carolina, with a special a photo shoot. (Courtesy CaroMont Health)
On the last day of the NICU stay, each baby gets a professional photo shoot and a foam cap with a message written by Jordan.
Bella Baby Photography takes the photos of each graduate free of charge.
PHOTO: Baby Madison is celebrated the day she left the neonatal intensive care unit at CaroMont Health in Gastonia, North Carolina, on Feb. 15. (Courtesy CaroMont Health)
Read more and see more adorable photos of these tiny graduates on Yahoo! News.