{Allison is a Labor and Delivery Nurse at St.Vincent's Birmigham, and Nate is an executive for Farmers Insurance Group, one of the March of Dimes highest money raising national partners.  Both St. Vincent's Health System and Farmers Insurance Group are phenomenal supporters of the Alabama Chapter of the March of Dimes.  And the Pearce Family couldn't be more proud to be a part of companies who actually support a cause and a mission that is near and dear to their hearts.} 

Palmer Nathaniel Pearce was born March 15, 2010 at 9:45 a.m.  He came early, at only 28 weeks (and 6 days) gestation due to me having pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH).  Palmer weighed only 1 lb. 12 ozs. and was 13 3/4 inches long.  As of May 3, he is 49 days old and weighs 4 lbs. 7 ozs - a great improvement!

Nate & I have been very lucky in dodging many bullets with Palmer.  He has had no brain bleeds and has a healthy developed heart.  His eyes are still immature, but he is only 36 weeks progress to date (May 3).  We had a NEC* scare a few weeks ago and dealt with him having MRSA*, but now he is tolerating feedings and coming off his IV fluids.  He does have bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), but he will receive a 3-day course of steroids to help decrease the inflammation in his lungs.  But only nutrition and time will heal those lungs.  We are very proud of our little boy.

Please know how much Nate and I appreciate the work of the March of Dimes!  We never knew just how much we'd need it, but now we're so grateful to know that we have you all here to help our family and families like ours.  We are so proud to support such the only organization that is a real champion for babies!

Many thanks,
Allison Pearce

Birmingham, AL

Key Terms:

*PIH: Pregnancy Induced Hypertension - a condition of high blood pressure durning pregnancy.  Your blood pressure goes up, you retain water and protein is found in your urine.

*NEC: Necrotizing enterocolitis - a medical condition primarily seen in premature infants in which portions of the bowel undergo necrosis, or tissue death.

*MRSA: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus - a bacterium responsible for several difficult-to-treat infections in humans.  MRSA, by definition, is any strand of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria that has developed resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics, which include the penicillins and the cephalosporins.