Some very special reunions took place at one Maryland hospital today.

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In what has become an annual event at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, children who spent time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit when they were first born -- some of them for months -- reunited with the nurses who lovingly cared for them.

Two-year-old Norah Brust was one of the kids enjoying the fun and games -- and lots of hugs. She's a healthy active kid now, but that wasn't always the case.

Norah was born prematurely and lived in the NICU for 55 days.

"Norah was 29 weeks when she was born and weighed 770 grams, which is a pound eleven ounces," said her mother, Mia Brust.

Today, Norah and many of the other NICU babies and their families had a chance to say thanks to the nurses and staff at the 11th Annual NICU Carnival.

Cathy Ambrogi is one of those nurses who helps the families overcome the difficult starts. She says seeing the kids happy and healthy today is the best part of her job.

Fun and emotional for the families as well, many of whom have met during trying times.

But today amongst the games and entertainment, they had a chance to swap stories of success.

The NICU at the hospital cares for about 800 kids a year and just this past June an expansion was completed, giving them more room to do this work.