Throughout this month, hospitals across the country are honoring the smallest patients in their care and their families. 

September is Neonatal Intensive Care Awareness Month. 

For parents with babies in the NICU, it can sometimes be kind of a scary place. Every beep, every sound raises those anxiety levels. That’s why health care workers are trying to lessen that stress - and it all starts with a good book.

Destiny Williams and her little girl Journii have been together in the NICU at St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital since June.

Journii weighed only one pound when she was born at 23 weeks gestation.

“She’s now 5 pounds, 13 ounces. We’re 15 weeks old as of yesterday. She’s a strong little girl. My miracle baby, for sure,” said Destiny.

Days in a NICU can feel like years as time goes by slowly.

Destiny makes sure Journii is surrounded by things she loves, like books and music.

“She’ll listen most of the time. I think her favorite book is Horton. She has Horton here,” she said.

She’s especially thankful the hospital is participating in the annual “Babies with Books NICU Read-A-Thon."

Health care workers like Dr. Alfonso Vargas frequently stop by to pay a visit. 

Dr. Vargas is a neonatologist and medical director of St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital’s Therapeutic Hypothermia Programs.

“I love you when you’re silly and dancing round and round…,” he said as he read a favorite book to little Journii.

More than 100 NICUs across the country and in three other countries are in a friendly competition to encourage reading and family support. 

However, this year it’s hitting even more of an emotional note.

“There’s so much we’ve had to endure over the past year as a community, that to take the time to go back to something so normal like sitting down and reading to a baby is incredibly refreshing. It brings us back to where we’re supposed to be and it brings us back to our mission here which is to help these young people grow,” Dr. Vargas said.

Even the hospital’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Megan Tirone can’t turn down an opportunity for some snuggles.

“I don’t get to spend nearly enough time with babies anymore. You forget how calm and peaceful it is."

It’s a favorite part of the day, and for moms like Destiny who are here for the long haul, it’s a chance to breathe.

“It’s an emotional rollercoaster here and to know that you have great doctors and great nurses that are going to be here gives you a little ease and reading the books to her, makes it better for me,” said Destiny.