Ann and Patrick Dowling of Hope Valley, RI, have been named the March of Dimes Rhode Island Chapter Ambassador Family for 2007. They are shown here with their four-year-old son Matthew. Matthew was born 15 weeks early at Women & Infants Hospital on Feb. 23, 2003. He weighed only 2 lbs., 1 oz. The Dowlings also have three-year-old twin sons.
Matthew is one of 1,508 babies in Rhode Island who are born too small, too soon—11.8 percent of all live births in Rhode Island are preterm.
Preterm birth is the major cause of newborn death and there is no known cause for 50 percent of these births; many survive with long-term medical and developmental problems. These problems come with great family suffering and stress, and at a great financial cost to families, employers and insurers.
Matthew has gone through many medical procedures and received speech, occupational and physical therapy from Early Intervention until he was three years old. He is now in the public school system and receives all his therapies through school.
The Dowlings are thankful for their family and for the work of the March of Dimes. As the March of Dimes 2007 Ambassador Family, they support the mission of the March of Dimes to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.
Join the Dowling Family in the March of Dimes RI Chapter 2007 WalkAmerica. The Newport Walk will take place on Saturday, April 21 at Brenton Point State Park. The Providence Walk will take place on Sunday, April 29 at Roger Williams Park. You can participate in achieving a record-breaking $500,000 goal to help give all babies a healthy start. People may register on-line at www.walkamerica.org or call the Rhode Island Chapter at 401-454-1911.
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