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BY Michael Eli Dokosi, 1:30pm February 20, 2020,

This NICU nurse cared for a man and 30 years later takes care of his son at same hospital

by Michael Eli Dokosi, 1:30pm February 20, 2020,
David Caldwell, baby Zayne Caldwell and nurse Lissa McGowan who cared for them both at birth in 33 years. Photo credit Renata Freydin.

A lot can happen in 30 years and new father David Caldwell is finding out after his son’s birth that the nurse, who cared for him at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the hospital he was birthed at, is the same person caring for his son who is also recovering at the unit.

Caldwell’s lady-love Renata Freydin had to rush to the New Jersey hospital 10 weeks before the arrival of little Zayne Caldwell.

“It came out of nowhere and I just started having contractions, he wasn’t having any of it. He wanted to come out,” Freydin told CNN.

Baby Zayne and his parents.
Baby Zayne and his parents.

Zayne Caldwell was birthed at the Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital on January 30 in New Brunswick and when his 33-year-old father reached to compare notes if there was a resemblance, fiancée Freydin quickly informed him that the nurse in his photo was the same person who is attending to their son.

That starling disclosure led to a reunion as Lissa McGowan, a NICU nurse had cared for Caldwell who was also born premature more than three decades ago.

“I saw the picture and I knew right away it was nurse Lissa,” Freydin said. “He didn’t believe me and said ‘no way, it’s not possible.'”

She was once the smallest baby born in Texas. Now, she works in the NICU of the hospital that saved her life
She was once the smallest baby born in Texas. Now, she works in the NICU of the hospital that saved her life

“We have so many babies who cross our paths, and we have had many who say they had a relative here, but it’s never hit so close to home where it is father and son, not for me,” McGowan told My Central Jersey. “It’s been a very nice surprise.”

When Freydin shared images on Facebook showing McGowan cradling Zayne with that of Dave in her arms, the post went viral being shared more than 24,000 times.

As things stand, the nearly three-week-old baby is already a social media star with mom pleasantly surprised by the developmen, adding it has helped to take her mind off the tough pregnancy and delicate situation at the NICU.

Last Edited by:Kent Mensah Updated: February 20, 2020

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