INDIANAPOLIS — While October 31 is normally the main day people dress up for Halloween, a Henry County family took the chance to celebrate each day and bring some joy to the NICU at Peyton Manning Children's Hospital.
Dylan and Monica Altman used felt to create 31 costumes for baby Lorelai - one for each day of the month.
"I was like how can we make October not boring, make it exciting and kind of make it go a little faster because the NICU life can feel very lengthy sometimes," Monica said. "We ended up with the 31 Bootiful Days in the NICU."
Lorelai's pod has a photo album so her parents and care team can look back at the costumes - especially if one of the staff members missed a day.
"We usually get her into her Halloween costume around the same day or around the same time of day. So the nurses and the respiratory techs and the doctors ... if they're around in that time, they'll all kind of flock over and be like what is she today?" Monica said. "It's created this very positive buzz and our daughter definitely loves the attention."
Lorelei was born early at 23 weeks and four days in August. She weighed one pound and seven ounces and has grown to five pounds and three ounces.
"She is feisty, which is a really great thing when you're in the NICU. She is spunky and also very sweet," Monica said. "When you're a NICU parent you have no control over anything and that's for a reason. But this gave us the opportunity to have a little control over each day and it ended up being really fun to do too."
Both parents are thankful for the care their daughter is receiving and for the hospital staff.
"Obviously this isn't the path we were thinking we would have to endure ... but everybody's been very supportive," Dylan said.
"Everybody is just so incredible ... the love for [Lorelai] is so apparent," Monica said. "Being in the NICU is very difficult, no matter how long the stay is."
We had to ask... out of all the costumes, do mom and dad have a favorite? Dylan chose Lorelai's cow costume.
For Halloween day, the Altmans are planning a Build-A-Bear pumpkin outfit followed by a turkey costume, Monica's favorite creation, on Nov. 1.
-
The WNBA's Fever and NBA's Pacers are more than just neighbors in Indianapolis
The Pacers and Fever aren't just neighbors. They're basically basketball family. They have the same ownership, play their games in the same building, cross paths with the other all the time.
Thousands gather for 'No Kings Day of Defiance' protest in Indianapolis
As President Donald Trump plans to celebrate his birthday with a military parade in Washington, D.C., thousands of protesters have gathered at the Indiana Statehouse for "No Kings Day of Defiance."
Game 4: Thunder rally to top Pacers 111-104 and tie Finals
The Oklahoma City Thunder rallied from a 10-point, second-half deficit to beat the Indiana Pacers 111-104 on Friday night and tie the NBA Finals at two games apiece.
Silver Alert issued for missing 76-year-old from Warrick County
Debra Bone, 76, is described as a white female, 5 feet 7 inches tall, 172 pounds, with gray hair and green eyes.
