AtlantiCare/Sean Farrell and wife Cindy Ciccotelli Farrell celebrate Christmas Eve on Long Beach Island, with new daughter Lainey.
GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP A fourth-year medical student missed his first day working in AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center Neonatal Intensive Care Unit earlier this month, but for good reason.
Sean Farrell of Long Beach Island and his wife Cindy Ciccotelli Farrell, also a fourth year medical student at the hospital, were destined to spend time together in the NICU.
Cindy went into labor Monday morning, Dec. 7 and Sean brought her to the Center for Childbirth at AtlantiCare's Mainland Campus in Pomona, where he was scheduled to start a two-week rotation in the NICU several hours later.
Sean Farrell of LBI had good reason to miss his first day on the job.
The couple's daughter, Lainey, arrived that evening weighing 5 pounds, 9.6 ounces, but because she arrived nearly six weeks early, Lainey's care continued in the NICU.
Sean said he knew he would have a great experience learning in the NICU, but he didn't anticipate doing so both as a medical student and as a dad.
I didn't think she'd get to celebrate her first Christmas until next year, he said.
The couple has a new appreciation for neonatal care at AtlantiCare.
We have a greater appreciation professionally and personally for the care our Labor and Delivery, Maternal Newborn, and NICU colleagues give all families, Cindy said. We are treasuring celebrating the holidays with our beautiful daughter as we learn the joys of parenting.
The Farrell family prepare to leave AtlantiCare's NICU with Lainey, born six weeks premature.
