A Miracle 40 Years in the Making

Stars aligned recently at Christiana Hospital as paths crossed for two individuals, for the second time, 40 years later. Whether it be luck, divine intervention or destiny, to Caitlin Custer-Hufe, “it was a miracle.” 

In July of 2025, Brian Hufe and Caitlin found themselves in the NICU after the birth of their daughter Gwen. They were there for 17 days, during which they got to bond with their baby and get to know the staff. For Caitlin, it was a familiar environment, one she had seen in pictures taken years before. 

Born weighing 1 pound, 10 ounces, Caitlin was also a premature NICU baby at Christiana Hospital back in 1986. Her mother used to tell her about their time at the hospital and how she came to visit her every day for three months. Under the care of Katherine “Kitty” L. Esterly, M.D., longtime chair of ChristianaCare’s Department of Pediatrics and a pioneer in neonatology, and numerous nurses, Caitlin was able to grow and thrive and be discharged home. 

Esterly was also instrumental in Caitlin’s development in another way. Caitlin received milk from the Mother’ Milk Bank, founded by Esterly at ChristianaCare. As the oldest operating milk bank in the United States, it helps store, safety test and distribute breast milk to infants, especially those in the NICU. The program helps support babies’ development and reduce the risk of disorders like necrotizing enterocolitis, a sometimes deadly gastrointestinal condition. Just like her mom, newborn Gwen also received milk from the Milk Bank during her stay. 

When Caitlin told her story to Gwen’s nurses, Cara Adkins, RN, was taken aback. She’d started her career at ChristianaCare as a NICU nurse around the time Caitlin was born and had likely helped with her care. For 35 years she stayed with the NICU team, transitioned to another team for a few years, and had just retrained for the NICU when Gwen was born. 

“It warms my heart and even gives me chill bumps a bit!” said Adkins when she learned about the connection. “It means a lot to take care of more than one generation. 

Gwen became Adkins’ “NICU Grandbaby.” The longtime nurse loved introducing her team members to the family and telling them about the exceptional coincidence at every opportunity. To Caitlin, Adkins’ presence was much more than a helping hand; it represented a special connection to her mother, who had passed a few years prior. 

“To know there was someone taking care of Gwen who also took care of me bridged a bit of a gap,” Caitlin said. “It was amazing to have that connection to my own birth and NICU stay. “It’s heartwarming.”