| Hutchinson, Kansas—Zachary and his parents haven’t been part of a TV show, but they have survived a real-life drama when Zachary was born, six weeks early, weighing only four pounds. As ambassadors, the Hobbs family will share Zachary’s story so that volunteers and sponsors will understand how participating in WalkAmerica helps the March of Dimes to fight premature birth and its lifelong consequences.
“At 11:57 PM on August 18, 2003 Zachary was born. He was not breathing, and received three doses of surfactant therapy and was put on a vent. After three weeks in the NICU we were finally able to take our son home thanks to the March of Dimes ” Brandi said.
One in eight babies is born prematurely in the U.S. today, many times for unknown reasons. To help find the answers, the Hobbs family have become volunteers for the March of Dimes, sharing their story because they feel fortunate that Zachary survived. Premature birth is the leading cause of newborn death. Many survivors suffer from lifelong consequences including chronic health conditions and developmental disabilities.
Zachary is inviting Hutchinson to join him in WalkAmerica on April 24 at the Kansas State Fair Grounds, Eisenhower Building, registration begins at 8 AM, WalkAmerica starts at 10AM, to help the March of Dimes find the answers to why premature birth happens and how it can be stopped. The answers can’t come soon enough. For more information call 1-800-525-WALK or visit walkamerica.org or call your local March of Dimes 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. |
