Rochelle Darman, State Director of Marketing and Communications , (754) 300-2610, rdarman@marchofdimes.com.

Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet declares November as Prematurity Awareness Month

Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet recently declared November as Prematurity Awareness Month and November 17 at World Prematurity Day to honor the one in every seven babies in Florida affected by premature birth. The Fraser Family presented the Governor with the proclamation and told him the story of four year-old Caroline’s birth.
“She was born over 4 years ago, nine weeks early. It completely shocked us as our vision of our “normal” pregnancy was shattered. During the time we were in the hospital, we received a steroid to expedite her lung development, as well as numerous other medical therapies and treatments,” said Carrie Fraser. “We never thought of ourselves as people who would need the March of Dimes. We expected a normal, storybook pregnancy and birth. However, like more than half of families who experience premature birth despite doing everything “right,” we ended up with a child in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Thank God for the vision and foresight of the people at the March of Dimes so that when we needed them, they were there for our family.”

The March of Dimes continues to lead the fight against premature birth and serious threats to infant health by funding research and programs that benefit every baby born; and encourage Floridians to join the March of Dimes efforts in support of research, educational programs and community services throughout the State to work together for stronger, healthier babies.