“Braden Cole Haworth, was born August 13, 2002, at 23 weeks gestation weighing only 1 pound 6.9 ounces. He spent 125 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit hooked up to respirators and IV’s and received many medications for Chronic Lung Disease and bleeding on the brain. Braden is now 19 months old, weighs 20 pounds and is learning to crawl and eat from a spoon.  Braden has one handicap due to premature birth, he is blind,” said Lyndsie Haworth, Braden’s Mother. 

One in eight babies is born prematurely in the U.S. today, many times for unknown reasons. To help find the answers, the Haworth family have become volunteers for the March of Dimes, because they feel it very important that they share Braden’s story.  Premature birth is the leading cause of newborn death. Many babies that do survive suffer lifelong consequences including chronic health conditions and developmental disabilities.

Braden’s Mother, Lyndsie is the team captain of Braden’s Ladies walking team.  She is inviting Pratt citizens to join her in WalkAmerica on Friday, April 23rd  in Lemon Park to help the March of Dimes find the answers to why premature birth happens and how it can be stopped.  Lyndsie says, “The answers can’t come soon enough.”  For more information call your local March of Dimes office at 785.825.7476.

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies and in 2003 launched a five-year campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at www.marchofdimes.com or its Spanish Web site at www.nacersano.org.