As NFL Draft nears, Green Bay hospital presents its top picks

In a week, the NFL Draft comes to Green Bay, Wisconsin, and HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital presented its top picks.

The hospital in Green Bay celebrated its own rookies of the year: the babies in the newborn intensive care unit. The hospital staff shot pictures and videos of its promising picks, accented by tiny footballs and gridiron-themed bibs and apparel.

It’s a moment of levity with the children’s hospital getting in the spirit of one of the biggest dates on the pro football calendar, as the draft comes to one of the NFL’s most storied cities.

But it’s also about boosting the spirit of parents whose babies are in the NICU, said Jim Burke, manager of the NICU at HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital.

“For families that have a baby being cared for in our NICU, especially for extended periods of time, it can feel like they’re missing out on a lot of moments while they’re at the hospital,” Burke said in a statement provided by the hospital.

“By doing photo shoots like this, we help create some positive and fun memories for our NICU families,” Burke said. “It’s important to my team to not only offer expert care for these precious babies, but also to help lift the spirits of our moms and dads.”

Undoubtedly, the parents view their little rookies as superstars.