At Duke Children's, our partnership with families is at the heart of the care we provide. The Family Advisory Board of the Duke Intensive Care Nursery (ICN) was founded in 2002 and is made up of parents who have had one or more children in the ICN partnered with doctors, nurses, social workers, and family support specialists from the Duke ICN team. The mission of the Family Advisory Board is to improve communication and services to families while they are in the ICN and after they go home. Through the Family Advisory Board, parents provide input on ICN policies and resources and contribute expertise on specific issues that affect families.

Goals

• To serve as advocates to promote family-centered care in the Duke Intensive Care Unit (ICN).
• To actively partner with the Duke ICN health care team to improve the family experience.
• To provide social, emotional and educational support to families and staff.
• To provide input regarding program and policy development in the ICN on behalf of families.
• To facilitate standing family representation on ICN work committees.
• To develop and implement fund raising activities to support ICN family needs.
• To represent the diverse needs and perspectives of our patients and their families.

Board Members

Janna Elliott Mother of a premature girl born at 26 weeks and 4 days gestation due to Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR). Her daughter weighed 1 pound, 7 ounces (660 grams) and was 12.75 inches long at birth. She spent 110 days in the ICN and TCN.

Blake Teer Ellis Mother of a premature girl born at 23 weeks and 4 days gestation who weighed 1 pound, 9 ounces (730 grams) at birth. Her daughter spent 166 days in the unit where she underwent four surgeries--PDA ligation, ostomy, ostomy takedown, and Nissen and g-tube placement.

Katie King Mother of a son born at 24 weeks gestation, weighing 1 pound, 7 ounces. Her son was a surviving twin that was in the Duke ICN for four months with Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC). He went home with an ostomy.

Kellie Myers Mother of a son who was born at 39 weeks with a Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). Her son spent 115 days in the ICN/PICU/TCN where he underwent four surgeries, spent 18 days on ECMO, and battled pulmonary hypertension, blood clots in his kidney, severe feeding aversion and reflux.

Pamela Norcross Mother of two children who were both born prematurely. Her daughter was born at 32 weeks gestation weighing 5 pounds, 1 ounce and stayed in the ICN for 21 days. Her son was born at 32 weeks gestation, weighing 4 pounds, 11 ounces and also stayed in the ICN for 21 days.

Whitney Rodgers Mother of a daughter born at 34 weeks due to placenta abruption. She weighed 5 pounds, 1 ounce and spent 12 days in the ICN and TCN with complications related to her prematurity. Her daughter is now happy and healthy.

Angie Seeberg Mother of two children that were both born prematurely. Her daughter was born at 24 weeks gestation, weighing 1 pound, 5 ounces and spent over four months in the Intensive Care Nursery. Her son was born at 26 weeks gestation, weighing 1 pound, 10 ounces and also spent four months in the ICN. Her daughter had three hernia repair surgeries before leaving the hospital, and her son had four surgeries including hernia repair, Nissen, g-tube replacement, and g-tube removal.

Angela Wiggs Mother of twin girls born at 30 weeks, weighing 2 pounds, 11 ounces and 3 pounds, 4 ounces who stayed in the ICN for three months. One daughter had her left lung removed after leaving the nursery and the other daughter had five surgeries including a double hernia, tubes, bronchoscopy and laryngoscopy, adenoidectomy, and airway reconstruction.

Contact

For additional information about the Family Advisory Board, please contact:

Kellie Myers, Co-Chair
Whitney Rodgers, Co-Chair
Family Advisory Board
Duke Intensive Care Nursery
icn.fab@gmail.com