The holiday season was made a little brighter for the tiniest patients at Harris Regional Hospital when Santa Claus made a special visit to the New Generations Family Birthing Center’s Level II Special Care Nursery this week. The festive visit lifted spirits and spread joy among families and caregivers as the community prepares for the most magical time of year.

Harris Regional’s Level II Special Care Nursery provides advanced care for infants born prematurely at 32 weeks or later, babies needing stabilization, those experiencing an illness that can be resolved with specialized support, and infants convalescing after intensive care. The nursery is staffed around the clock by a team of professionals, including a board-certified neonatologist and highly trained nurses, supported by specialty equipment and advanced technology designed to give newborns the best possible start.

During the visit, Santa moved room to room, bringing joy and smiles with him — lifting the spirits of both families and staff. His warm presence filled the nursery with holiday cheer, creating meaningful moments of hope, comfort, and connection for those spending this season in the hospital. It was a heartwarming reminder of the emotional support that matters just as much as clinical care during a newborn’s first days of life.

Savannah Hicks Baylon, MSN, RN, Director of Labor and Delivery at Harris Regional, reflected on the visit and its impact. “Celebrating the holidays with our families in the Special Care Nursery is such a privilege,” Baylon said. “Even during challenging medical moments, experiences like this remind us of the hope and joy that the season brings. It’s wonderful to help create special memories for parents and siblings who are spending these early days of their baby’s life here with us.”

In addition to providing compassionate family-centered care, the Level II Special Care Nursery emphasizes parent education, lactation support, developmental interventions, and opportunities for skin-to-skin bonding — all part of a nurturing environment designed to promote healthy growth and strengthen the parent-child connection.

The Level II Nursery visit from Santa has become a treasured holiday tradition at Harris Regional Hospital and is a testament to the hospital’s commitment to serving its families with care, dignity, and joy throughout the year.

For more information about the New Generations Family Birthing Center or to schedule a tour, visit www.myharrisregional.com/new-generations-family-birthing-center.