National Nurses Week highlights the extraordinary connection between two Novant Health caregivers spanning 26 years
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A remarkable story of coming full circle is unfolding at Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital, where a former premature infant has returned as a nurse to work alongside the very person who cared for her more than two decades ago.
Christmas Day 1998 brought an unexpected gift to the Kaufhold family when their twin daughters arrived two months early. The premature birth meant a lengthy stay in what is now the Novant Health NICU, where nurse Angela Neal provided critical care during those uncertain weeks.
“I’m a nurse. I’m here to serve people, I’m here to help people, and I just want to give them my best,” said Neal, who has been caring for the hospital’s most vulnerable patients for 35 years.
That experience left an indelible impression on the Kaufhold family, particularly on twin daughter Abigail, who grew up hearing about her earliest days.
“My parents always shared their story and their experience in the NICU for me and my twin sister,” Abigail said.
Those childhood stories eventually shaped her career path. In a remarkable twist of fate, Abigail’s journey has come full circle as she now works as a nurse in the very same NICU where she once fought for her life — alongside Neal, the nurse who cared for her as a newborn.
“Every time I walk in, I know that she’s got my back. And it’s so special to be able to have this connection, meet and meet her, and get to be a NICU nurse alongside her,” Abigail explained.
The pair now work opposite shifts, often giving patient reports to each other — a professional relationship built upon a foundation that began in Abigail’s earliest days of life.
For Abigail, the opportunity to provide the same compassionate care she received represents both a personal mission and professional calling.
“I just want to serve the babies and their families the way that God has called me to, and I pray that I get to have the kind of impact that Angela has in my family,” she said.
As National Nurses Week continues through Sunday, this extraordinary connection between two caregivers highlights the profound and lasting impact nurses can have on their patients — sometimes in ways they could never imagine when providing that critical care.
Health experts note that experiences in neonatal intensive care units often create deep bonds between families and caregivers, but rarely do those relationships evolve into professional partnerships decades later.
Contact Myles Harris at [email protected] and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts that impact you from WCNC Charlotte, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app and enable push notifications.
