 |
Dec. 21, 2001 Volume XXXIV, No. 50 |
|
|
PREMIEre Program celebrates 20 years of living
To most, it looked like an ordinary children's party on a nice fall day. But to get on the guest list, the kids had to do something really remarkable. All were born severely premature. All survived, thanks to the help of the PREMIEre Program. The PREMIEre Program is a high-risk, infant follow-up program for children weighing less than 3 pounds, 9 ounces at birth. PREMIEre offers specialized services such as developmental testing and comprehensive neurological exams. Children also are linked with early childhood intervention services that provide physical, occupational and speech therapy. On Oct. 26, the program celebrated its 20th anniversary with a PREMIEre reunion party at the Health Science Center. Two of the oldest PREMIEre members were on hand as guests of honor: 21-year-old Chris Alvarez only weighed 1 pound, 9 ounces at birth and is now a student at Palo Alto College. Daniel Torres just turned 20 years old and is proud to be entering the work force for the first time. The program also honored Wanda Daniels, a PREMIEre nurse case manager, for her contributions to PREMIEre.
"It's a wonderful program," Daniels said. "While it's exciting for these parents to finally take their baby home, it's also scary. I think the parents really appreciate having someone to talk to who really takes an interest in their child." Dr. Rajam
Ramamurthy,
professor in
the
department
of pediatrics,
directs the
program.
University
Hospital
encourages
the reunion
party each
year and
provides
refreshments,
invitations
and staffing.
Students
from Clark
High School
volunteered
to entertain
the children
with
Halloween
activities.
|
L-R) Two-year-old twins Seth and
Cesar Molina play a game of
miniature golf during the PREMIEre
Program's reunion.
Wanda Daniels (right) accepts an award from
Dr. Francisco G. Cigarroa, president, for her
outstanding contributions to the PREMIEre
Program. Daniels is a nurse case manager for
the program.