| E-MAIL NEWSLETTER | April, 2004 |  |
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Dear Friend,
WalkAmerica 2004 took place last weekend in most locations. I hope that you walked, had fun and good weather. Most of all, I'd like to thank those of you who participated. Your efforts truly make a difference.
This month's Personal Spotlight features the story of Brooke, a
mother who is walking with Caleb after many years of sitting on
the sidelines. Because you are part of the March of Dimes family,
we're sharing this story with you. Also in this newsletter, you'll
find information about:
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| Visit marchofdimes.com
to read more. Share your comments, suggestions and feedback on this newsletter by e-mailing newsletter@marchofdimes.com View
past issues of Miracles online by visiting the new Newsletter Archive |
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| Dear March of Dimes, |
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The last few years I have sat on the sidelines, I've silently read the advertisements and watched the candy fund raisers spring up, yet with each word, each phrase, and each year the March of Dimes championed this cause, my heart has carried the torch with them. My son, Caleb, was born at 5 months, 6 days old. At the cusp of viability, he weighed in at a remarkable 1 lb., 3 oz. He lost weight and slipped to under a pound that first week. It was then that I began to journal daily to capture my son's struggle for life. The first two weeks involved dismal prognosis, blood sepsis, heart surgery, lung disease and many other complications of being born too early. But God is good. He gave us plenty of aggressive doctors who fought with us. Caleb's stay in the hospital was a 4-month stint, and we watched many other children come and go. By the time we left, Caleb was the veteran of the NICU. Ironically, I was on the last page of my journal. So, a new chapter was birthed, and Caleb is now a healthy, happy, and growing 3-year-old boy. This year I relinquish my spectator status, and I will walk alongside so many others to help raise money for research and programs to help premature babies.
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Prematurity Risk Factors - Are You At Risk?
Preterm labor and delivery can happen to any pregnant woman. But they happen more often to some women than to others. Researchers continue to study preterm labor and birth. They have identified some risk factors, but still cannot predict which women will give birth too early. Having a risk factor does not mean a woman will have preterm labor or preterm birth. Three groups of women are at greatest risk of preterm labor and birth:
 Find
out more about what you need to know from our Pregnancy & Newborn Health Education Center. |
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| New Recommendations for Women on Mercury in Fish
and Shellfish
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., MARCH 19, 2004 – The March of Dimes
urges women who might become pregnant, women who are pregnant, and
nursing mothers to follow these 3 new recommendations from the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) for selecting and eating fish or shellfish. By following these
recommendations, women can get the benefits of eating fish and shellfish
and be confident that they have reduced their exposure to the harmful
effects of mercury. |
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 Arnold Palmer helped support the March of Dimes. The Salk vaccine field trial began on April 26, 1954. To commemorate this historic anniversary, throughout 2004 Miracles is going to bring you a different vintage photograph from the March of Dimes archives taken during the polio vaccine rollout 50 years ago. As a subscriber to the Miracles e-mail newsletter, we invite you
to be among the first to preview our newest site: |
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Best, Editor Miracles Online March of Dimes |
| This online newsletter is sponsored
by the March of Dimes, a nonprofit organization. The mission of the
March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth
defects and infant mortality. For more information about the March of Dimes, visit our Web site at marchofdimes.com. This newsletter is for information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. © March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, 2004 |
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| HOW YOU CAN HELP | ||
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Support the March of Dimes Please consider making a secure online donation today to help save babies! Click here. |
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 Join others in the fight to defeat premature birth, and help give every baby a healthy start.
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| POLIO PIONEERS | ||
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 The March of Dimes is looking for your Polio Pioneer stories. If you would like to share your personal story, please visit our new site: Polio to Prematurity |
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| TIP OF THE MONTH | ||
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Fly Away Thinking of getting away one last time before your baby is born? Air travel is safe for you and your baby as long as you have no pregnancy complications and are at least a month from your due date. But check with your health care provider before you take off. If you have high blood pressure or other complications, she may suggest staying home. |
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| DEPARTMENT
56 SNOWBABIES FOR MOTHER'S DAY |
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Make Mother's Day a special act of kindness by purchasing the $5 "Heart Full Of Love" Ornament by Department 56. For every $5 ornament purchased Department
56 will donate $1 to the March of Dimes. Click here to find a Snowbabies™ retailer near you!
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