| After trying for four years to have children, the most exciting news you can receive is that you’re expecting twins. However, as joyful as this news was, this family wasn’t prepared for the journey they were about to set out on.
Michelle and Jeff Ambrosia were preparing themselves for their dream come true. They were busy attending doctors’ visits and preparing the new nursery. Although the couple was due that November, in August, while 23 weeks pregnant, Michelle began having symptoms of premature birth and within one week was giving birth in the emergency room at Oakwood Hospital in Dearborn.
Alexandra and Aiden, weighing in at 1pound, 7 ounces and 1 pound, 8 ounces were immediately taken to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit before their mother or father could even hold them. At birth, the Ambrosias were told that their children would have 48-72 hours to live. After surpassing those odds, the Ambrosia twins went through various surgeries and were released to their parents' care three months later.
Six months ago the Ambrosias pledged that they will volunteer and support organizations that helped save the lives of their babies. Because of this commitment, the Ambrosias will join thousands of other Michigan residents by participating in WalkAmerica, the March of Dimes largest fundraiser.
WalkAmerica is an eight-mile walk to save babies and will take place rain or shine at Troy Civic Center on Sunday, April 25. Proceeds raised by WalkAmerica help the March of Dimes save babies through programs of research, community service, advocacy and education.
National WalkAmerica sponsors are Cigna, Discovery Health Channel, Famous Footwear and Kmart. Comcast is statewide sponsor of WalkAmerica in Michigan. Local sponsors include WJR, WDVD, WDRQ, Pepsi and The Detroit Free Press.
The statewide honorary chair for Michigan’s WalkAmerica is UAW President Ron Gettelfinger. Honorary chair for the Troy location is Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson.
Those interested in participating in WalkAmerica with the Ambrosia family and the above leaders can do so by calling 1-800-BIG-WALK or visiting www.walkamerica.org.
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. More information is available on the March of Dimes websites at www.marchofdimes.com and www.nacersano.org.
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