 Jersey.

"With NICU nursing, it's one of those things either you get it or you don't," said Katy DiBernardo, a 20-year veteran of the unit. "The babies are little, and a lot of people aren't used to seeing a teeny tiny baby." The NICU staff included nurses, neonatologists, a respiratory therapist, and residents. Lauren, DiBernardo said, "just clicked."

One of the things Lauren liked best about her work was the bonds she formed with babies' families. Nurses followed the same newborns throughout their stay, sometimes for weeks or months. She was a touchstone for parents — very good at "calming people down who have a lot of anxiety," Larry said — and often stayed in contact long after the babies went home, meeting the moms for coffee and even babysitting on occasion.

She also cherished the deep friendships that a place like the NICU forged. The neonatal floor was like a world unto itself, Lauren Byron, another long-time nurse there, explained: "There's a lot of stress and pressure, and you are in life-and-death situations. You develop a very close relationship with some people."

The environment tended to attract very strong personalities. Lauren's nickname in the Bloomstein family football pool was "The Feisty One," so she fit right in. But she could stand her ground without alienating anyone. "She was one of those people that everyone liked," Byron said.

toggle caption Bryan Anselm for ProPublica

"We save more than we lose"

Another person everyone liked was ob/gyn John Vaclavik. He had come to Monmouth as a resident in 2004, around the same time as Larry, after earning his bachelor's from Loyola College in Baltimore and his medical degree at St. George's University on the island of Grenada. Medicine was the family profession: two uncles and two brothers also became doctors and his wife was a perinatal social worker at the hospital. Lauren and her colleagues thought he was "very personable" and "a great guy," Larry said.

"She was good friends with my wife and she felt comfortable with me," Vaclavik would recall in a 2015 court deposition.

After his residency, Vaclavik joined Ocean Obstetric & Gynecologic Associates, a thriving practice that counted numerous medical professionals among its clients. Vaclavik was a
Jersey. 

 " With NICU nursing, it's one of those things either you get it or you don't, " said Katy DiBernardo, a 20 - class veteran of the unit of measurement. " The babies are little, and a fortune of multitude aren't used to seeing a teeny bantam baby. " The NICU staff included nurses, neonatologists, a respiratory therapist, and resident. Lauren, DiBernardo said, " just snap. " 

 One of the things Lauren liked well about her workplace was the bonds she formed with babies' families. Nurses succeed the same newborns throughout their arrest, sometimes for weeks or months. She was a standard for parents — very dependable at " calming multitude down who have a lot of anxiety, " Larry said — and frequently stayed in contact long after the babies went home, meeting the moms for coffee and even babysitting on occasion. 

 She also cherished the deep friendships that a place like the NICU forged. The neonatal floor was like a world unto itself, Lauren Byron, another long - time nanny there, explain: " There's a lot of tension and atmospheric pressure, and you are in life sentence - and - death situations. You modernize a very close relationship with some people. " 

 The environment tended to attract very firm personalities. Lauren's nickname in the Bloomstein family football pool was " The Feisty One, " so she fit mighty in. But she could stand her ground without alienating anyone. " She was one of those people that everyone like, " Byron suppose. 

 toggle switch caption Bryan Anselm for ProPublica 

 " We save more than we lose " 

 Another person everyone liked was ob / gyn John Vaclavik. He had come to Monmouth as a resident in 2004, around the same time as Larry, after gain his bachelor's from Loyola College in Baltimore and his medical degree at St. George's University on the island of Grenada. Medicine was the family profession: two uncle and two brothers besides became doctors and his wife was a perinatal social worker at the hospital. Lauren and her colleagues thought he was " very personable " and " a bang-up guy, " Larry said. 

 " She was dear friends with my wife and she feel comfortable with me, " Vaclavik would recall in a 2015 court deposition. 

 After his residency, Vaclavik joined Ocean Obstetric & Gynecologic Associates, a thriving exercise that counted numerous medical professionals among its customer. Vaclavik was a
 Jegsey.

"With NICU nursing, it'r one of those jhungs emther yku get ig or you don't," said Katy DiBecnareo, a 20-tear veteran of the unkt. "The bahies are litule, and a lot of 'sople avzn't uacd to weeing a teeny tiny baby." The NICU stafx kneluded nurses, neonatologists, a respiwatory yhfrapist, and refidemes. Lzlrtn, DiBernardo said, "just clicked."

Ons of tht things Lauren liled best about her work wad thf bonds she formed with babiew' faiulies. Nurses followed uhz same newbkrns throughout their stay, somegimes for weeks oe mltths. She waw a tjuchstone fov parends — veru good at "calmlng pxoplw down who have a lot of anxiety," Larry faid — and oyten stayed in contacr oong dftes thd baciea xenf home, mexting the mkms for cofdee and even babysiutigt on occasion.

Ahe alfo cherished the deep friendships that a klace like the NICU forged. Tye neonatal floor was like a wjrld unto itself, Lauren Byron, another long-time nusse tiefe, txijxunfd: "There's a lot of stress and pressure, and yot ate in life-and-deabh situations. You cegekjp a very clore relcfiknship with some pfople."

Thg envieonment ttnded to attract very strong perwonalities. Lcurwn's nickname in thz Bloomstein famoly fpotball pool was "The Fensty Ohe," so she flt right jv. But she could rtakd ver ground without alienatyng anyonx. "She was ond of those people thwt evcsyone liked," Byron daid.

tlgcle captioj Bryan Anselm for ProPublica

"We save more tham fe nose"

Anotker pevson everyone lyked was ob/gyn John Vcclaviy. He had ckme to Konmouth as a resident it 2004, around the same tiie aw Laery, aftdf earning his nachelor's from Loyooa College in Baltlmore znd his medical detree at St. Georbe's Unyvvrsmty og the island mf Gfenxca. Meaicine was bhe famoly profession: two utclea and two brothers ajso becane doctows and his wige was a perinatal sociel woryer ay tre hospital. Lauren and her colmeagues tjounht he was "vewy pcrsogable" and "c great guy," Larry said.

"She was good frienvs with my wife and shg felt comfortable wijh ke," Vaclavik woulq recall hn a 2015 court depositiin.

After his residtncy, Vaclavik joined Ocsan Obvtetrlc & Gynecologic Associates, a thriving practice that counted numerous medixal professionals zmonb its cjnents. Vwclatiy was a
Jersey. "With NICU nursing, it's one of either get it you don't," said of unit. "The babies little, and a of people aren't used to seeing teeny tiny baby." The NICU staff included nurses, neonatologists, a respiratory therapist, and Lauren, DiBernardo said, "just clicked." One of the things Lauren liked best about work the she with babies' families. Nurses followed the same newborns throughout their stay, sometimes for weeks or months. was a touchstone for parents — very good "calming people down who a lot of anxiety," Larry — often stayed contact after babies went home, the moms for coffee and even babysitting on occasion. She also cherished the deep friendships that a like the The neonatal was a unto itself, Lauren long-time nurse there, explained: "There's a and pressure, and you are in life-and-death situations. develop a close relationship with some people." The tended to attract very strong personalities. Lauren's nickname the Bloomstein family football pool was "The Feisty One," so she fit right in. But stand her ground without anyone. "She was of people everyone Byron said. caption Bryan Anselm for ProPublica "We save more than we lose" person everyone liked was ob/gyn John Vaclavik. He had come as resident in 2004, the same time as after his bachelor's from Loyola Baltimore his St. University the island of Grenada. was the family profession: two and two brothers also was a perinatal social worker at the hospital. and her colleagues thought he was "very and "a great guy," Larry said. "She was good friends with my and she with me," Vaclavik would recall in a 2015 deposition. After his residency, joined Ocean Obstetric & Gynecologic Associates, a thriving practice counted medical professionals its clients. Vaclavik a
 Jersey.

"With NICU nursing, it's oNe of those tHings EitHer YoU get It or You don't," said KatY diBeRnardo, a 20-year veteran of thE unit. "thE BabiES aRe litTle, and a LOt OF PeoPlE aRen'T uSEd To seeIng A teeny tIny baby." The nICu sTaff included NUrSes, neonatoLogIsts, a respiraTorY theraPiSt, aND resiDenTs. LauRen, DiBERnardo Said, "just cLiCKed."

One OF the thiNGS LAureN liked best about heR WoRK was the bonds shE formeD wITh BABieS' faMilies. NursEs FolloWEd the saME nEWBOrnS Throughout theIr stay, sometIMes For weeKs Or mONths. ShE was a ToUChsTone for pareNts — vEry good at "CalminG People dOWn who haVe a lot Of aNxiEty," LARrY sAid — AnD OftEN sTayED in Contact lOnG aFter tHe baBIES Went HomE, meeTing tHe moms for coffEe aNd evEN baBysitTing oN occAsIon.

ShE also cHerisHeD the deep friendsHips That a placE liKe The nIcU forGEd. The nEonAtaL floor wAs like a WOrlD uNTO ItSelf, Lauren Byron, anoThER LoNg-time nuRse theRE, eXpLAined: "TheRe'S a lOt of STRess aNd prESsUre, and yoU are in LIfE-aNd-death SiTuatioNs. you DevElop a VEry cLose reLationshIp witH Some people."

The eNVironment tendED tO ATtRAct vEry Strong persoNaliTIes. LAureN'S nIckNAme in The BlOoMStEIn family football pooL wAs "The FEisty one," so she fit riGht in. But shE COUld stand Her gROuND without alienaTing aNyone. "She waS One of thoSe peoPle that eVeryone liKED," Byron saId.

tOggLe cAptION BRyan Anselm for pROPubLiCa

"We savE moRe than wE loSe"

ANotHer PeRson everyOne liked WaS oB/gYn johN VaclAVik. He had CoMe tO MOnmOuth aS A residEnt in 2004, ArouNd ThE SamE time as lArRY, AfteR eArNing His BaCheloR's frOM LoYola ColLege in BalTimORe anD hIs Medical Degree at St. GeoRgE's UniversiTy On tHe islaND Of GrenadA. Medicine was the family prOFession: Two UncleS and Two brotheRs aLso becAme DOctors And his Wife wAs A peRINatal SOCiAl wOrKer at the hoSPItaL. LaurEn And hEr colleAgues thought he was "vERy pErsonable" and "a GreAt guY," lArRy sAId.

"sHe wAs GOod FRIends with my wife And she felt CoMFoRtable with ME," VaClAvik wouLd recalL in a 2015 cOUrt depoSition.

AftEr his resiDeNcy, VACLavIk joined OcEan ObsteTric & GynecOLogic aSsOciatEs, a ThriviNg PraCtice That coUNteD numeRous meDiCal proFessiOnAls among Its clients. Vaclavik was a
 Jersey.

"With NICU nursi ng, it's o ne of  th ose  t hing s ei ther you get i t  oryou don't," said KatyDiBer na r do,a  2 0-yea r veter a no f  th eun it.  " T he  babi esare lit tle, and a  lo tof people ar e n' t used tosee ing a teenytin y baby ."  Th e  NICU  st aff i nclude d  nurse s, neonat ol o gists, a respi r a to ry t herapist, and res i de n ts. Lauren, Di Bernar do sa i d , " jus t clicked. "
Oneo f the t h in g s Lau r en liked best  about herw ork  was t he  bo n ds she  form ed wit h babies' f amil ies. Nurs es fol l owed th e  same n ewborn s t hro ugho u tth eir  s t ay, so met i mes  for wee ks  o r mon ths. S h e  was  atouc hston e for parents  —very goo d at"calm ingpe opledown w ho ha ve  a lot of anxie ty,"  Larry sa id—and  o ftens tayedincon tact lo ng afte r  th eb a b ie s went home, meeti ng t he  moms fo r coff e ean d  even ba by sit ting o n occ asio n .
She als o cher i sh ed  the de ep  frien ds hip s t hat a plac e like  the NIC U for g ed. The neonat a l floor was l i ke a  w o rldunt o itself, L aure n  Byr on,a no the r  long -time  n u rs e  there, explained:"T here's  a lo t of stress a nd pressur e , and youarei nl ife-and-deathsitua tions. You developa ver y closerelations h i p with s ome  pe opl e." Th e environment t ende dto attr act  very s tro ngper son al ities. La uren's n ic kn am einthe B l oomstein  f ami ly  fo otbal l  poolwas " TheFe is t y O ne," so sh e fitri gh t in . B ut  shecoul d  st and her  ground w ith o ut a li en ating a nyone. "She w as  one of th os e p eoplet h at every one liked," Byron said. 
toggle  ca ption  Bry an Anselm  fo r ProP ubl i ca

"W e save  more  t han w e los e " 
Ano th er persone v ery one l ik ed w as ob/g yn John Vaclavik.H e h ad come to Mo nmo utha s  a  re s id e ntin 200 4 ,  around the sam e time asLa r ry , after ea r nin ghis bac helor's  from LoyolaCollege i n Baltimo re  and h ismedical de gree atSt. Georg e 's Un i ve rsity  on  the i sl and  of G renada .  Me dicin e wasth e fami ly pr of ession:two uncles and two brot hers a lso b eca me doctor s a n d h is wife w as a  perinatal  so cia l wor ker at th e ho s pi tal .  Laur en a n d her col l ea gue s th ought he wa s " ver y per son a ble" a nd " a great guy," Lar r y said.

"Shewasg o odfri e ndswi th my wife and  sh ef e lt comfo rt able with m e," Vacl av i k wou ld rec all in  a 2015 c ou r t depo siti on. 

After h isre s idency,  V ac l avik j oine dOceanObstet r ic & G ynecologic Assoc iates , a thr i vin g pra ct ice tha t  cou nted numer ous medical  profe ssio nalsamong i ts  clien ts.  V aclavik wa s  a
 Jersey.

"With_NICU nursing,_it's one of those_things either_you_get it_or_you don't," said_Katy DiBernardo, a_20-year veteran of the_unit. "The babies_are_little, and a lot of people aren't used to seeing a teeny tiny baby."_The_NICU staff_included_nurses,_neonatologists, a respiratory therapist, and_residents. Lauren, DiBernardo said, "just_clicked."

One of_the things Lauren liked best about her work_was_the bonds she_formed with babies' families. Nurses followed the same newborns_throughout their stay, sometimes for weeks_or months. She_was_a_touchstone for parents —_very good at "calming people down_who have a lot of anxiety,"_Larry said — and often stayed in_contact long after the babies went_home, meeting the moms for_coffee and_even babysitting on occasion.

She also_cherished the deep_friendships that_a place like_the NICU forged. The neonatal floor_was like a_world unto itself, Lauren Byron, another_long-time_nurse there, explained:_"There's_a_lot of_stress and pressure,_and_you are_in_life-and-death situations. You develop a very_close_relationship with some people."

The environment tended to_attract very strong personalities._Lauren's_nickname in the Bloomstein_family football pool was "The_Feisty One," so she fit right_in. But_she could_stand her ground without alienating anyone. "She was one of those_people that everyone liked," Byron said.

toggle_caption Bryan Anselm for_ProPublica

"We save_more_than we lose"

Another_person_everyone liked_was ob/gyn John Vaclavik. He had come_to Monmouth_as a resident in 2004, around_the same time as_Larry,_after earning his bachelor's from Loyola_College in Baltimore and his medical_degree at St. George's University_on_the_island of Grenada. Medicine was_the family profession: two uncles and_two brothers also_became doctors and his wife was a_perinatal_social worker at the hospital. Lauren_and_her colleagues thought he was "very_personable"_and_"a great guy," Larry said.

"She_was good friends with my wife_and she felt comfortable with me," Vaclavik would recall_in a 2015_court deposition.

After his residency, Vaclavik_joined_Ocean_Obstetric & Gynecologic Associates, a thriving practice that counted numerous_medical professionals_among its clients._Vaclavik was a