11/24/2025
In 1991, Madison Smith entered the world six weeks early with walking pneumonia, spending her first weeks in the Bon Secours — St. Francis Eastside NICU, under the attentive care of our dedicated team. More than 30 years later, her own baby made an early arrival two months ahead of schedule and found herself in the very same NICU, and cared for by the very same nurse who had once cared for her mom!
“It brought tears to my eyes,” Madison shared. “They become like family when they're in there helping take care of your child, especially when you were once there being taken care of, too.”
The news was just as unexpected for NICU nurse Amy Hilberath.
“Somebody told me, and I was like, ‘What?! Are you kidding me? The baby had been there a week or so, then when Mom came in, I went and introduced myself to her. I had no clue, and then to realize she was one of our first patients was incredible. It felt good to be able to take care of that little baby in particular, knowing I had helped with her mom,” she said. “It was also nice to see how they grow up into a healthy person who’s now having a baby of their own.”
Madison’s new little one, Kaylee Unruh, spent 3½ weeks in the NICU receiving oxygen and learning to feed. Today, she’s thriving at home with her parents and 9-year-old brother – growing, smiling and cooing away.
Reflecting on the experience, Madison says, “It gave me comfort knowing someone there had been there so long and helped me even. It just eased my mind knowing she'd be there to take care of her as well and help guide me through taking care of a premature baby. It's really like having a NICU mom – they guide you through the whole process, which is a whirlwind.”
After 45 years as a nurse, and 35 of them spent caring for patients and their families at St. Francis Eastside, Amy is set to retire. While she looks forward to spending more time with her own family, she says she’ll definitely miss the bond she has created with so many families in her workplace.
“It’s very involved. You talk to them a lot and get to know them. We talk about everything – their family, what they do – it’s like forming a friendship with a new neighbor. Luckily, many of them love to come back and show off their babies as they grow, but they might come back when they’re 3 or even school age. It’s rare to see them beyond that childhood stage.”
This latest reunion, a rare exception that has created quite the parting memory for Amy as she prepares to hang up her nursing uniform in December. This beautiful, full-circle story is also a testament to the lasting impact of compassionate care. At the Neonatal Care Unit at Bon Secours — St. Francis Eastside Hospital, our experienced staff provides around-the-clock, specialized care to help our tiniest patients grow stronger every day and support families every step of the way.