March Of Dimes

This is a VERY important charity that is very close to our hearts.The reason we walk is quite obvious! We have had 3 miracle kids now thanksto March of Dimes.(we also have a cousin and nephew who were preemies as well)With the help of Progesterone shots to keep me pregnant,blood thinners to help my blood not clot, steroids to help lung maturity,and surfactant to keep lungs from collapsing after birth, our little ones survived!


Matthew was born at 2 pds and 9 oz on Sept. 24, 2005.He was about 3 months early.Due to his medical problems and me working long hours at a vet, I had no symptoms of pregnancy and we only knew I was pregnant for 3 weeks before he was born.He was born in renal failure and not expected to live more than a few hrs and immediately put on dialysis the next day.He was there 6 months.He has went through 22 surgeries, including transplant at 2 years old, and is now 6 and doing well.His only lasting effects is developmentally delayed,on meds for seizures, and tube feed(which we getting closer every day to getting rid of the tube feeds)


Zoe was born July 26, 2007 the day before our 2nd wedding anniversary.She was 1 pd 15 oz and about 10 weeks early.She spent 10 weeks in NICU and came home on Oct. 6,2007 ,the day before her due date.We thought the early birth of Matthew was a fluke due to his medical problems and I wasn't placed on anything extra as far as meds and such.After her birth, we found out I basically have a uterus that is separated into 2 parts and that is why I cant carry to term. She was born early though because the blood flow in her cord had reversed due to a blood clot they believed.She is now a happy, healthy 4.5 and has had no surgeries or lasting effects of prematurity.

Aden was born Jan 22, 2010 due to reversed blood flow in his cord as well.He was our smallest at 1 pd 10 oz and was about 12 weeks early.During the pregnancy I was placed on weekly P-17 injections to prevent preterm labor and Levonx injections with an aspirin once a day(which later turned into heparin twice a day)to prevent blood clots. I also received in NICU. 1 to put in a drain stabilize him when his bowel ruptured, 1 to take out 12 inches of ruptured bowel and had another to put it back together and back into his belly 8 weeks later. He was released 6-15-10 after 4.5 months at 7 pounds 6 ounces & then had to be rushed to the Children's Hospital ER with a sever bowel obstruction 2 weeks later. He had a 4 hr emergent surgery where they removed another inch and his appendix.He is now 2 and doing well.






The mission of March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.