March of Dimes Greater New York Ambassador Families
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Alaio Family
Ambassador Family, Westchester/Rockland
After trying for years to have a child, Elizabeth and Gerry Alaio became pregnant through invitro-fertilization in 1999. Elizabeth enjoyed a healthy pregnancy until she unexpectedly felt contractions upon the start of her 23rd week. Although she felt no pain, her husband Gerry’s concern fortunately sent them to Hudson Valley Hospital’s emergency room. To the expecting parents’ surprise, Elizabeth was in preterm labor and already was dilated. The obstetrician said, “Elizabeth, I am so sorry, but the baby is too small to survive.” She immediately was transferred to Westchester Medical Center for its expertise with premature babies where she would be monitored on bed rest for the duration of her pregnancy. Two days later, Elizabeth’s water broke.
“I remember not knowing what to pray for,” she said. “I knew at that point a healthy baby was not possible; we felt so desperate and sad. I didn’t know if I was praying for life or death.”
Christina Marie was born on February 17, 2000, weighing only 720 grams. Doctors and nurses rushed to save her. “It wasn’t fair; I was taking excellent care of myself,” Elizabeth said. “I felt so much guilt and grief, because I felt that my body had failed her. If not for the fact of being ‘born too soon,’ she would be healthy and vibrant.”
Elizabeth felt an overwhelming feeling of emptiness. “Only a moment before, I had a healthy baby girl growing and kicking inside of me, and now I had a tiny, very, very sick baby struggling to live.”
Christina was immediately intubated because her lungs were not fully developed. She received two doses of surfactant therapy to help re-inflate the lungs after each breath. Like most premature babies, Christina was not yet able to independently produce surfactant in sufficient quantities due to her immature lungs. This procedure was developed in part by March of Dimes-funded research
During her 84 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Westchester Medical Center, Christina was treated for her low birthweight as well as anemia of prematurity, jaundice, PDA (malfunction of blood flow from the heart), respiratory RDS (lung malfunction), apnea, abdominal distention and a Grade I intracranial hemorrhage. She underwent a fetal echocardiogram and received medication to correct the PDA, mechanical ventilation for 43 days and multiple blood transfusions. Many of these therapies exist because of the March of Dimes.
“When I first saw Christina in the NICU, I could not believe how tiny and frail and beautiful she was, all at the same time,” Elizabeth said. “My heart was racing when I said ‘hello’ to my tiny daughter. Her heart rate went up because she knew me – my voice and scent. It was a memorable moment.”
Today Christina is healthy and enjoys entertaining her parents and baby brother Michael, dancing, reading and gymnastics. Her family describes her as “the sunshine in our lives.”
According to Gerry, “the NICU was like a family to us and we are so thankful for the research done by the March of Dimes. It is hard not to look into those beautiful innocent eyes and not remember her struggle. We feel honored to share her story.”
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Haynesworth-Fox Family
Ambassador Family, Brooklyn
Michelle Haynesworth-Fox and her husband Brian Fox may have been unaware of their perceptive insight, but they prevented a grave situation when they went to the hospital because of spotting in her 24th week of her healthy pregnancy. Michelle actually was dilated 10 cm and, thus, administered medication to halt premature labor. With two older children who were born full term, this was far from expected.
Michelle was put on hospitalized bed rest and given four doses of a steroid to expand the baby’s lungs. After four days, she began to bleed more heavily, and the doctor ordered an emergency Caesarian section. This was major surgery because the baby was sideways in Michelle’s uterus; she received general anesthesia and two doses of a painkiller. As a result, Michelle was unable to function for two days and did not see her baby until then. Brianna Serena was born on June 12, 2003, weighing only 1 lb., 4 oz.
“I was saddened to see her so tiny, but I had complete faith that she would make it,” Michelle said.
Upon Brianna’s birth, she immediately was put on a respirator and entered the Brooklyn Hospital Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) where she remained for 85 days. She suffered from jaundice, Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) and rickets of prematurity – all common results of premature birth.
One of her first treatments was surfactant therapy to help re-inflate the lungs after each breath. Like most premature babies, Brianna was not yet able to independently produce surfactant in sufficient quantities due to lung damage. Like much NICU technology, this procedure was developed in part by March of Dimes-funded research. A respirator enabled her to breathe, and she underwent a fetal echocardiogram, intravenous feeding and ultraviolet light therapy.
To her family’s delight, Brianna is developmentally on-track for her adjusted age and enjoys playing with her older siblings. “I would like to share our story with others and provide comfort and knowledge to those in need,” Michelle said. The Haynesworth-Fox family volunteers with the March of Dimes because it truly illustrates the fact that prematurity can happen to anyone.
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Kortye Family
Ambassador Family, New York
Blake Kortye is a miracle baby, and the reasons transcend his angelic disposition, incredibly curious eyes and tender smile. After years of struggling to become pregnant, his parents Gary Kortye and Stacy Wender welcomed Blake into their lives on September 10, 2002, weighing only 2 lb., 4 oz. Overcoming obstacle and despair, they now know the meaning of hope and finally have the family for which they dreamed.
Upon their second attempt at in vitro fertilization, Stacy became pregnant with twins. However, at 22 weeks doctors realized the only way to have a healthy baby was to perform a reduction. The pregnancy progressed well until Stacy went into premature labor at 26 weeks. When she was admitted to New York-Presbyterian Hospital on September 6, for what her doctor assumed was a normal reaction to the reduction, she was startled to learn that she was having contractions every few minutes and that her water broke. Stacy immediately started a full dose steroid treatment to accelerate the maturation of the baby’s lungs. She was stabilized as ‘high-risk’ through the weekend; an ultrasound led to an emergency Caesarian section because of the baby’s dropped heart rate.
Blake was born with anemia of prematurity and thus required multiple blood transfusions. He also suffered from a malfunction of blood flow from the heart (PDA), a common lung malfunction among premature babies called respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), jaundice, for which he received two weeks of phototherapy, and a double hernia corrected by surgery. Much of Blake’s therapy is, in part, the result of March of Dimes-funded research.
After 97 days in the Neonatal Intensive Car Unit (NICU), Blake finally went home with his parents. Blake is healthy, on-track developmentally and remarkable in every way.
“We are so proud of Blake; he is a true miracle,” Stacy said. “We are thankful for the March of Dimes and what its research meant for our baby. Our hope is that we help raise awareness among everyone.”
Kretzmer Family
Ambassador Family, Bronx
With pre-natal care and the proper balance of exercise and rest, Marissa Kretzmer was having a healthy pregnancy. However, in her 29th week she and husband Stephen learned that she had symptoms of low fluid levels and Intra-Uterine Growth Restriction (IUGR). Marissa was admitted to Winthrop University Hospital for observation and received two courses of steroids to mature the baby’s lungs in case she was born prematurely.
“The neonatal specialist told us, ‘The baby will either come out extremely healthy or a vegetable,’” Stephen recalled. “Besides the anxiety, fear, frustration and guilt, things were moving along O.K; then it all shattered.”
While the original plan was for her to go home on bed rest, the next day it changed to hospitalized bed rest until the baby’s birth. Marissa had developed pre-eclampsia, a life-threatening condition that caused her blood pressure to rise uncontrollably. She gained 100 lb. of water in three days, threatening both her and the baby. A central line was put into Marissa’s jugular vein, and she was in renal failure. “She remained tougher than nails, always worrying about the baby more than herself,” Stephen said. “I prayed constantly: ‘Please save them both.’”
When labor was induced on July 23, 2002, Marissa’s blood pressure rose to stroke-zone. Grace Kelly was born via emergency Caesarian section weighing 2 lb. The parents were told not to expect to hear anything when their daughter was born; they were overjoyed when they immediately heard her cry.
Labeled ‘failure to thrive,’ Grace was sent to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) where she remained for 58 days to treat anemia, jaundice, PDA (malufnction of blood flow from the heart), renal tubular acidosis, Russell-Silver Syndrome and pulmonary stenosis. She received a blood transfusion, medications and other therapies developed in part by March of Dimes-funded research.
“It was not until Marissa was recovering in the ICU and my daughter was in the NICU, when I understood that I could feel such love and joy for two people in the world," Stephen said. "That’s when I knew what it truly meant to be both a husband and father.”
“I lived for changing Grace’s diapers and taking her temperature through the tiny windows of the isolette,” Marissa said, referring to the hospital stay. “With great care, many prayers, lots of love and the benefit of March of Dimes research, Grace came home at 4 lb., 3 oz. She’s doing great.”
Grace is a sweet child who loves to color and dance and enjoys books, the water and animals. Her family shares its story because of the support it needed upon Grace’s birth. “We know she would not have fared as well without the March of Dimes,” Marissa said. “Its commitment to healthy babies, and now to prematurity awareness, is wonderful and life saving.”
“She seems to bring joy with her wherever she goes,” Marissa said. “She truly is our ‘Amazing Grace,’ and we thank God everyday for the gift of her life and health.”
Mandel Family
Ambassador Family, New York
Alyse and Adam Mandel’s lives changed forever when she went into premature labor at 25 weeks and gave birth to Hanna Emily on January 8, 2002, weighing only 1 lb., 13 oz. Five weeks earlier, Alyse had been placed on bedrest when she became dilated due to an incompetent cervix and had a cerclage placed to prevent further opening of her cervix. Upon her diagnosis, she learned the frightening statistic that more than half of those with this condition lose their babies.
On January 7, contractions and bleeding sent Alyse back to NYU Medical Center. With only enough time for two of the advised four doses of steroid treatment to advance Hanna’s lung maturation, she was born and rushed to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The Mandels went through what Alyse describes as “a roller coaster ride” for the following three months while Hanna remained in the NICU connected to a ventilator and other tubes. One of her first treatments was surfactant therapy to help re-inflate the lungs after each breath. Like most premature babies, Hanna was not yet able to independently produce surfactant in sufficient quantities due to lung damage. This procedure was developed in part by March of Dimes-funded research.
“She was so tiny; I never knew someone could be so small yet have the most profound love for her,” Alyse said. “Every parent craves for even the smallest involvement in caring for their child. We loved watching the smallest things – sucking her thumb, covering her eyes with her hand when the light was on, or just kicking her legs.”
Upon her birth, Alyse and Adam learned that Hanna suffered from an opening in her heart (PDA) that is closed when full-term babies are born and an intercranial brain bleed. Thus, she received several blood and platelet transfusions and steroid treatments until, to the surprise of many, she was able to breathe on her own after only one month. Hanna went home with her parents in April 2002 and remains “as feisty as she was the first day, as assertive and as adorable as when she first entered the world.”
“She’s our little miracle baby,” Alyse said. “She has changed our lives in the best possible way. Because a premature baby’s fate is often uncertain, we want to be able to offer to other families of premature babies necessary support and reassurance and an education regarding what to expect. With the March of Dimes, we would like to raise awareness about prematurity and let people know that it can happen to anyone.”
Adam Mandel is a managing director at Sandler O’Neill & Partners, LP, which annually forms a WalkAmerica team, and he is a member of the Greater New York WalkAmerica Executive Committee.
Romano Family
Ambassador Family, Staten Island
Jamie and Jianna Romano were born premature, after high blood pressure progressed to severe pre-eclampsia, endangering the life of their mother, Janine. Born on February 12, 2001, Jamie and Jianna were 14 weeks premature, weighing less than three pounds combined. Jamie was 11 inches long and weighed 1 lb., 6 oz. Her sister Jianna, born a minute later, measured 11 inches as well but weighed only 1 lb., 1 oz.
Rushed immediately to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the twins spent more than two and three months, respectively, in the specialized unit. Jianna underwent heart surgery in her first week of life to close an open blood vessel and, subsequently, had eye surgery. Both girls received multiple blood transfusions and remained on respirators for two months.
Jamie was able to go home on May 4, after almost three months in the NICU. She weighed 4 lb., 2 oz. After 99 days in the NICU, Jianna joined her at home a few weeks later, weighing 3 lb., 12 oz.
Jamie and Jianna’s story has a happy ending, thanks to the many advances developed in part by the March of Dimes.
Miyoshi Family
Ambassador Family, Hudson Valley
After suffering from a miscarriage and difficulty getting pregnant, Kim and John Miyoshi greatly anticipated the arrival of their first child. Kim was only six months pregnant when she felt “a little strange” and visited her doctor’s office. Noting her slightly elevated blood pressure and spotting, he sent her to Westchester Medical Center to be monitored. Moments before a final exam, Kim began hemorrhaging. “The doctors told my husband he would lose both me and my daughter,” Kim recalled. “Then they told him a C-section might allow them to save the baby; so they proceeded.” Within eight hours of Kim’s initial doctor’s visit, Gabriella was born on July 22, 2002.
Gabriella Miracle was born 12 weeks premature at 2 lbs., 8 oz. Even after she was born, doctors had doubts about saving Kim. After they performed an embollization to stop her bleeding, she spent five weeks in the maternity ward, and Gabriella spent six weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The baby suffered from jaundice, received surfactant therapy and absorbed medication and caffeine to treat anemia and apnea.
Today, Gabriella is a healthy, beautiful girl, constantly crawling and getting into trouble. John and Kim are thrilled to act as March of Dimes ambassadors. “We want to help other families who are experiencing similar problems and be a support for those who need it,” Kim said. “Not everyone is as lucky as we are. Gabriella had some difficult times, but she’s here and puts a smile on my face every day.”
Pezzuto Family
Ambassador Family, Long Island
Long time March of Dimes volunteers as a WalkAmerica sponsor, Kristin and Michael Pezzuto of Bellmore understood the organization’s vital mission to improve the health of babies and were thrilled to support its recently launched prematurity initiative. They did not predict, however, that their baby would be born prematurely and be in need of March of Dimes care.
During her volunteer work for the prematurity campaign, Kristin suffered a premature rupture of membranes (PROM), was immediately put on bed-rest at Good Samaritan Hospital and began a round of steroids to accelerate the maturation of the baby’s lungs. When her white blood cell count began to rise as a sign of infection, doctors performed an emergency Caesarian section. Bradley Louis was born at 28 weeks gestation on November 27, 2002, weighing 2 lb., 8 oz.
Due to his premature birth, Bradley suffered from jaundice, anemia and a lung malfunction known as respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). During his 10 weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), he underwent three blood transfusions. Fortunately, because of Kristin’s steroid dosage prior to delivery, Bradley never required assisted ventilation.
Much of the therapy and technology that enabled Bradley to begin a healthful life is due to March of Dimes-funded research. It is perhaps a twist of fate that Kristin and Michael had generously dedicated recent years to fundraising for such research. Today Bradley is healthy and on target developmentally. The Pezzuto family’s kindness continues in the new volunteer role of ambassador family.
“You can do everything right and still have a premature baby,” Kristin said. “Early labor can happen to any woman, and we need to do more to find out why.”
Michael hopes that the organization that helped his son will be able to fulfill its mission soon. “It is critical for our society to reduce the rate of premature birth, and supporting the March of Dimes is the best way I know to help.”
Picart Family
Ambassador Family, Queens
When she was only five months pregnant, Iyeen and Michael Picart’s obstetrician advised Iyeen to stop working to prevent pre-term labor. Monthly doctor visits led to the diagnoses of gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia, a life-threatening condition that caused her blood pressure to rise uncontrollably. When her blood pressure reached 150/100, she immediately was admitted to White Plains Hospital and remained on bed rest for two weeks until her son Thayer Michael was born seven weeks premature on July 14, 2002, weighing 3 lb., 12 oz.
“He was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen,” Iyeen said.
Thayer was in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at White Plains Hospital for 15 days. Fortunately, he was strong enough to breathe on his own and was not in need of a respirator.
“It was an unbelievable experience,” she said. “When I came to see Thayer for the first time, I was devastated. The nurses on staff were extremely supportive and every single one of them sincerely cared for the little ones.”
Now Thayer is healthy and home with his parents. The Picarts volunteer time with the March of Dimes because, according to Iyeen, “we were some of the blessed people to be able to take our son home.”
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Helping the Community through Grants and Awards
During recent years, the March of Dimes has awarded more than one million dollars to community agencies that offer prenatal services, professional/public education initiatives and advocacy efforts.
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