March of Dimes Kickoff

Well tonight was the kickoff for our local March of Dimes walk. Since we are the ambassador family I had to speak...I am not usually comfortable doing things like that, but for some reason I was really pretty okay with the whole thing. Jake was a total ham, waving and blowing kisses at everyone and Addison got to be a part as well. They told her she could cut the ribbon at the beginning walk and she got to draw for the door prizes...I thought that was really nice how they included her too. Anyway, we played our March of Dimes PSA Contest video and then I spoke...I thought I would share what I had to say tonight...

"Good evening…it’s a real honor for me to be sharing with you tonight our family’s story and to hopefully give you all a little more insight into why we walk and what the money we raise through the March for Babies will actually be used for in the future. On the video you just saw you heard my dad talking about his first memory of the March of Dimes and what it used to mean to him. Well, for me, my first memory of the March of Dimes was the first time I participated in WalkAmerica several years ago. At that time I was participating because a friend asked me to do it and because I knew it was for a good cause - I really didn’t know much about prematurity at that time, but I had had friends, family, and acquaintances who had either lost babies too soon or who had babies born with a birth defect. And honestly at that time I never dreamed that it would ever go beyond that for me personally…it was like any other health-related fundraiser that I had participated in…for a good cause, but not something that would probably ever actually affect me personally. But, several years later I found out exactly why I had walked before and why I would always walk after that in the March of Dimes March for Babies.
In the fall of 2005 we found out that we were expecting baby #2…our daughter Addison had just turned 2 and we were all very excited. During my 20 week ultrasound it was found that I had a condition called placenta previa that would likely resolve itself by the end of the pregnancy, but had to be watched carefully throughout the remainder of the pregnancy. Since I had had the same problem early in my pregnancy with Addison we felt sure that things would be fine again this time around. Unfortunately at every ultrasound and appointment thereafter we kept getting the same news…that the placenta was still too low and that we would have a c-section a few weeks early to prevent any complications. That was the plan at least.
On March 24th, 2006 I was rushed by ambulance to Hardin Memorial because of complications from a complete placenta previa and preterm labor. Our son Jake was born by emergency c-section 6 weeks early. He was a good weight for a preemie – 5 lbs. 5 oz. and since his weight was so good and he looked good we all thought that he was going to be just fine. His first several hours were spent in the special care nursery where he had to get IV’s and had to have blood drawn over and over again to check is oxygen levels until his feet were black and blue. Since his ability to breathe on his own continued to deteriorate that night the decision was made to transport him to Kosair Children’s Hospital in Louisville because of respiratory distress syndrome and surfactant deficiency. Surfactant is the substance that coats the inside of the lungs that allows them to inflate with each breath…without this substance the lungs will not inflate properly thus causing extreme breathing difficulties…many premature babies have not had time in the womb to develop surfactant so this is a common complication of prematurity. While in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Kosair Jake was placed on a ventilator and received 2 doses of surfactant therapy. On his second night in the NICU my husband and I received a call in the middle of the night (I was still in the hospital here in E’town recovering from the c-section) and we were told that his lung had collapsed so he had received a chest tube to reinflate the lung. During his hospital stay Jake also had to receive 2 blood transfusions, and had more tubes and wires attached to his little head and body than you can imagine. As anyone who has had a child in the NICU can tell you, it’s a roller coaster ride…you get good news and take two steps forward only for some other setback to take place that takes a you a step back. You see things that are completely heartbreaking…families saying goodbye to their babies at the bedside right next to you. It’s hard and it’s scary, but thankfully our story had a happy ending…after 35 days in the hospital Jake was welcomed home by me and my husband, James, and his big sister, Addison. We are extremely thankful for the family and friends here in Hardin County and all over the country that prayed for Jake, supported our family, and helped us all through the difficult times that surrounded Jake’s birth and hospital stay. We are especially thankful for the March of Dimes, specifically for their funding of the research on surfactant therapy…it wasn’t until the 1980’s that this research took place and it is what ultimately saved Jake’s life.
So this year I’m walking for Jake, but I’m also walking for my daughter Addison who was born full term and healthy because the March of Dimes certainly has had a hand in helping all babies, healthy or not get their full nine months. And I’m walking for babies that were in the NICU with Jake, ones that came home way before him, those whose stay was much longer, and those who never came home. And this year I’m also walking for our new baby…baby #3 who is not due until this September, but will certainly be benefited by March of Dimes research as well.
I want to personally thank you for your support of the March of Dimes. I encourage you to continue helping to save babies each year through your participation in March for Babies. Jake is a happy and healthy almost 2 year old little boy thanks to you and to those who have supported the March of Dimes throughout the years.
Thank you."

So, the Hardin County March for Babies is April 26th and so I need to get on the ball with getting our family team - "Team Jake" together and ready to walk! Since we're the ambassador family there's also a lot of pressure to have a really good team and since we did really well last year it's going to be even harder this time around. It's a great time though and certainly for a really great cause.

Here's a picture from last year's walk.