I am publishing this for those that couldn't take part in the March of Dimes Walk.
This is our mission story for the March of Dimes.
I did my best too hold it together and to share our story at today's walk...
Where am I? Who are all of these people? What is going on?
In labor? This can’t be happening… Wake me up, wake me up, someone please wake me up! This must definitely be a dream…No---you must have the wrong person…this kind of thing doesn’t happen to people like me.
November 28, 2009 changed our lives forever when our miracle arrived 11 weeks too soon weighing in at 3 pounds, 3 ounces and 16 inches long.
When I was a little girl I dreamt of meeting my prince charming, getting married and having lots and lots of babies! I met my prince charming in 2002 we were married on June 18, 2005. After 4 years of parenting practice with our two kitties and energetic Springer Spaniel we were elated to find out that we were going to be blessed with a baby boy.
Never did we ever expect the challenges we were about to face. Our son Harrison was expected to arrive on February 10, 2010. Life took an unexpected turn when he arrived nearly 3 months early. My husband and I were never so scared in our entire lives. The whole situation seemed so surreal.
I remember the first drive down to hospital to see our son the morning after he was born. I looked at my husband and said…this is the beginning of a very long road. As we arrived at the hospital we walked the long halls and road the elevator up to the 5 floor NICU, which would be home to our son for nearly 8 weeks.
I will always remember walking over to Harrison’s isolette for the first time and seeing this tiny baby fighting for his life. Tubes, lines and monitors covered his body. As parents we felt completely helpless. As a mother I blamed myself.
I had never been so angry at the world for what had happened…
As hours, days and weeks went by the reality of Harrison’s prematurity barreled in.…we stopped living the lives we once led. We had our life in the NICU and a life we were supposed to be living outside of those walls.
Life was a gigantic rollercoaster of emotions, struggles and gains. Set backs were inevitable and nothing could prepare you for reality of it all. We were afraid to celebrate gains because when something went well life would throw us a curve ball. I said to one of the nurses one day, “This place has made me the most un-trusting person.” Just when you think you have hit rock bottom, you are hit harder by a whirl-wind of challenges.
Harrison went from a ventilator, to c-pap to nasal prongs, and back to c-pap a half a dozen times. He underwent two blood transfusions and two rounds of drugs to help close the open valve in his heart. Next he faced issues with edema and was given several doses of diuretics to assist his breathing. Later struggles came with coordinating suck, swallow and breath during feedings and enduring countless periods of apnea and heart decelerations.
One step forward, two steps back. Despite the struggles, Harrison also made gains. As he continued to grow and mature, progress grew by leaps and bounds. Our 3 pound baby was now more than 5 pounds and feeding and breathing on his own.
Daily conversations with doctors went from when he goes home to he is going home. During the last two weeks in the NICU, the nurses used lecture Harrison and would say, “It’s time for you to go home.” It’s not that we wore out our NICU welcome…but indeed it was time to go home.
January 19, 2010 we walked the long halls and road the elevator to the 5th floor NICU for the last time. When we left the hospital that day, we left the hospital with our son.
Can we say for certain that our son would be here today without the help of March of Dimes?
No, we can’t. March of Dimes impacted the life of our son and family is so many ways.
Within minutes of birth Harrison was given surfactant. Surfactant keeps the air sacs in the lungs from collapsing making breathing easier in premature babies. The lungs are often underdeveloped and lack the production of surfactant. Receiving this treatment saves thousands of babies every year. Before the use of surfactant 10,000 babies died of respiratory distress syndrome each year. With the use of surfactant less the 1,000 babies die today. March of Dimes funded the research for this therapy.
The folic acid in prenatal vitamins has led to a decrease in birth defects, which is another contribution from the March of Dimes. New born screening tests including a hearing test have been made possible by the March of Dimes.
March of Dimes Advocacy for Preemies helps experts continue research for prevention for pre-term labor...so that more babies can be born at full term.
What can we do as individuals and families? Walk in support of this great organization. Spread the word---tell everyone about what March of Dimes has done. Ask for donations they won’t come to you, you have to go to them the worse somebody can say is no.
One day every baby will be born healthy.
Thank you March of Dimes!
