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"It just makes you feel good to help," writes a mom
who lost her first daughter, Katlyn Noel, to birth defects. Katlyn's
family keeps her memory alive by walking in WalkAmerica - as featured
in this month's Personal Spotlight."
As part of the March of Dimes family, we're sharing this story
with you, as well as important information in this issue on:
- prematurity
- healthy pregnancy, and
- our latest sponsor promotions.
Like Katlyn's mom, we're looking forward to WalkAmerica and the
good feeling that comes from walking to save babies. We hope you'll
join us. And feel free to pass this along to friends. Visit www.marchofdimes.com
to read more. And share your comments, suggestions and feedback
on this newsletter with us by e-mailing newsletter@marchofdimes.com.
| PERSONAL SPOTLIGHT
- KATLYN NOEL |
Dear March of Dimes,
My husband and I have been walking for the March of Dimes
for the last 13 years. In 1990 I gave birth to my beautiful
daughter, Katlyn Noel. Little did we know that she had five
heart defects. She was rushed to The Medical University of
South Carolina where she spent most of her life. She had open
heart surgery on February 6th, 1991 and lived another 11 days
until her passing on February 17th, 1991.
The medical care Katie received while alive was phenomenal!
As parents, we know we did everything we could possibly do
to help her. Fortunately we did have two months with her.
Since then, we have had two healthy children. Tyler is 11,
and Hannah is 8. We talk to them about Katie quite a bit.
They also participate in WalkAmerica
with us. We walk for "Katie's Team" in memory
of her and to let others know that the March of Dimes always
is saving babies by funding cutting edge research. We will
always walk in WalkAmerica.
It just makes you feel good to help. Thank you for everything!
Donna |
Please consider making a donation
today to help save babies
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| PREMATURITY CAMPAIGN
- NEWS |
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Many Premature Babies Have Lifelong Health and Cognitive Problems,
March of Dimes Notes
Many babies born prematurely have serious physical and mental
disabilities - such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation, chronic
lung disease, and vision and hearing loss - that last a lifetime,
the March of Dimes said.
| The March of Dimes comments came in response to a new long-term
study of premature babies born at very low birthweight published
in the February 12, 2003 issue of The Journal of the American
Medical Association. The study showed that most of these
babies improved on verbal and IQ scores as they got older. |
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"However, while the data from this study are fairly positive
overall, they need to be put into perspective," said Nancy
S. Green, MD, medical director of the March of Dimes. "Naturally,
we’re pleased to see that these children who received long-term
follow-up and specialized care showed improvement. But, we must
remember that even despite intensive therapy, the disabilities in
many preterm babies all too often are permanent."
(continued)
Check our Prematurity Web
site for additional announcements.
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| EXERCISE DURING
PREGNANCY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW |
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What you need to know:
Unless there are medical reasons to avoid it, pregnant women can
and should exercise moderately for at least 30 minutes on most,
if not all, days. Exercise helps women feel better. The calories
burned help prevent too much weight gain.
Exercise can help pregnant women avoid gestational diabetes,
a form of diabetes that sometimes develops during pregnancy. It
can help build the stamina needed for labor and delivery. Exercise
enhances well-being and promotes early recovery after labor and
delivery.
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What you can do:
Before doing any exercise, it is important to check with
your health care provider.
Consider brisk walking, dancing, swimming, biking, aerobics
or yoga. |
Avoid activities that put you at high risk for injury, such as
horseback riding or downhill skiing. Avoid sports in which you
could get hit in the abdomen. Especially after the third month,
avoid exercises that require you to lie flat on your back. Never
scuba dive because it can cause dangerous gas bubbles in the baby’s
circulatory system.
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Regards,
The March of Dimes
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WALKAMERICA
2003
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Take a big step in the fight against
prematurity by joining WalkAmerica to help save babies!
Register
online today
to Walk!
Famous Footwear, a national WalkAmerica® sponsor,
is running a "Be a Hero" campaign through
May 3rd. Shoppers are asked to donate $1, $2, or $5
to the March of Dimes as they make shoe purchases. Customers
who donate will receive a March of Dimes and Famous
Footwear "HERO" pin or sticker.
Click
here to find a store in your community.
National WalkAmerica sponsor, Kmart Corporation has
been supporting the
March of Dimes for more than two decades. Kmart stores
across the nation are
selling paper die-cut sneakers for $1 to benefit the
March of Dimes
community and education programs.
March of Dimes is proud to have Krispy Kreme as a partner
in WalkAmerica 2003.
Participating Krispy Kreme stores will donate $0.10
for every whole dozen of doughnuts sold from March
31 through April 10, 2003.
Find a location
near you
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Click
now and help us defeat prematurity.
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