March of Dimes
View All Chapters | Find Your Local Chapter
 
March of Dimes Home
Professionals & Researchers Pregnancy & Newborn How You Can Help About Us
Iowa Chapter
Search
, 425 2nd Street SE Suite#605
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
(319) 247-5643 E-mail Us!
View all
Iowa offices


Iowa Home

Chapter Resources

Events

Mission at Work

Get Involved

Advocacy

News Desk

Chapter Information

Hot Topics

Prematurity

Folic Acid






Siouxland Division

Siouxland WalkAmerica 

Saturday, April 29, 2006

Pre-registration at 8:30 a.m., walk starts at 9:00 a.m.

Long Lines Family Rec Center (the old Auditorium)

This years walk is a four-mile walk through downtown Sioux City and along the Water-front. The after walk event will be a carnival like event with fun foods and activities for the kids.

Siouxland Ambassador Family:

“Samuel” means “gift from God”.  And he truly is.  We were sure that we had beaten the odds and we had cleared the biggest hurdle when our 4th attempt at invitro was successful.  Little did we know that this was only the starting block.  At 18 weeks Sam pushed his foot into the birth canal.  This led to an immediate surgery in an attempt to continue the pregnancy.  A second surgery followed to strengthen his absolute determination to come early.  After eight weeks of drugs and hospitalization, Sam entered the world at 28 weeks weighing 2 pound 14 ounces.  The only feelings I could find were heartache and failure.  My first sight of Sam included more wires and monitor patches than it did baby.  He was smaller than I could ever have imagined.  He had thick coal black hair sticking up – a confirmation of the wives tale that heartburn  was a sign of a baby with hair!  The outlook was minute by minute.

Sam initially required only light oxygen flow – basically he was breathing on his own. We were told he would soon tire and would require a respirator.  There were tests for everything – but he only had enough blood in his tiny system to complete these over a number of days.  We were informed of the many challenges children born this early face – blindness, deafness, learning impairments, slow motor skills.  We could only pray for strength to get through.

Sam proved his determination.  He was a fighter.  He was released from the hospital after 7 weeks at 4 pounds.  He never required a respirator – although he needed routine reminders to breath.  His initial tests for hearing and eye development appeared to be normal.  Coming home required a heart and breathing monitor to be attached 24 hours a day.  False alarms were regular due to poor connections – the alarm sounding was a constant reminder of how fragile life is.

Sam continues to be a determined toddler.  At 2 ½, Sam has amazed many.  He has not had to struggle with many of the complications doctors predicted.  He is a normal, healthy little boy.  He is our gift from God.  We are so blessed.

Sponsors:

Tyson, Sioux City Journal, KTIV, and Powell Broadcasting

Contact Information: Mary Bertram, 705 Douglas #612, Sioux City, IA 51101 ,  (877) 343-6101 or email  mbertram@marchofdimes.com


Storm Lake WalkAmerica

Saturday, May 6, 2006

Registration 8:30 a.m., Walk starts at 9:00 a.m.

Chautauqua Park Shelter House in Storm Lake

This years walk is a four-mile walk along the Lake and through some residential neighborhoods. The after walk event will include pizza and prizes.

Sponsors:

Sara Lee Foods

 

For more information, contact Jill Wooster at 1-877-343-6101 or jwooster@marchofdimes.com


Donating is easy online, by phone or mail / fax.



Siouxland Walk Major Sponsor

















Home | Editorial Policy | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Link Policy | Contact Us

© 2009 March of Dimes Foundation. All rights reserved. The March of Dimes is a not-for-profit organization recognized as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3). Our mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.