Alana Aldridge was born 10 weeks early weighing only 2 lbs., 8 oz. As a result of Alana’s premature birth, she suffered many complications including apnea, reflux, and staph infections.  Being a strong fighter, Alana won the battle against premature birth and today is a healthy and beautiful little girl. Your support helps babies like Alana who come into the world too small or too soon.

The Andrews Family Journey

At twenty-four weeks and 5 days gestation, Anthony, Benjamin, and Collin Andrews were born. To anyone observing, it would have looked like a circus with 41 medical professionals attending to the birth of these beautiful little angels. The birth of these three beautiful babies was a true miracle in progress.

Tragically, 63 hours later, Anthony and Collins’ mission, to assure Benjamin’s survival into this world, was completed.  Both of the boys died within two hours of each other. Benjamin, at 1 pound 5 ounces, survived the many trials and challenges of the NICU and will always have his two guardian angels wherever he goes to protect him.

Benjamin is blessed to have survived 3 ½ months of ventilation on a respirator; 1 ½ years on oxygen, and to date, 11 years of occupational, physical, speech, and sensory integration therapy.  He possesses many strengths but faces daily physical, social, emotional, and cognitive challenges to adapt and adjust to his limitations from extreme prematurity.

Abby’s Journey

Abby Cox of Pickens County was born on Sept. 19, 2000, and weighed 15.4 oz. She was in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit until December 12. Abby was diagnosed with BPD, a problem with her lungs that she would eventually outgrow.  Abby had a hernia that required surgery at 2 months of age and was on C-PAP breathing machine for over two months. When Abby was finally able to go home, she required oxygen and heart monitors for several months.

Abby is now a happy, healthy child with many blessings.

The March of Dimes spearheaded the development of Neonatal Intensive Care units and played a leading role in the development of therapies to help premature babies breathe.

Emily’s Journey

Emily Marie Gattis of Elgin, SC arrived nearly nine weeks early on January 30, 2006 weighing 3 lbs., 5 oz., and measuring just 14 ½ inches long. After her birth, she was quickly taken to the NICU and it was hours before we could see her.  My first glimpse of her in the isolette made my heart sink. I couldn’t believe how tiny she was compared to our first daughter who was born full term. Emily was diagnosed with a brain bleed, and required breathing treatments. After 27 days in the NICU, she was discharged, and even though she weighed just 4 lbs., 7 oz., she required no special equipment at home, and the brain bleed had dissolved.

Today, at 11 months, Emily is thriving. We are grateful to the March of Dimes for their role in the development of Neonatal Intensive Care Units, and for funding the research that has produced life-saving medical treatments for tiny babies. Thank you for helping babies like Emily!

-- Jennifer Gattis, Emily’s Mom

Ella’s Journey

Ella Rose Gordon, daughter of Patience and Scott Gordon, was born too soon and too small, weighing 2 lbs., 5 oz. Her first crib was an incubator and her first bottle was an IV supplement and a feeding tube. As her parents describe it: “It was terrifying having our baby in the NICU at MUSC in Charleston. There were so many machines, wires and tubes. My heart ached for this tiny child with her mouth held open by a huge tube going down her throat. Her skin seemed far too thin and fragile to support the many needles and IVs. I can’t imagine the pain she was in. Today, we know that March of Dimes research enabled our daughter to survive.”

Ella Rose was finally able to go home two months later, but required oxygen, and a monitor for her heart and breathing. Today, Ella is a living symbol of the March of Dimes successful fight to give every baby a healthy start.

Sarah and Grace’s Journey

Andrew and Mary Frances Hendrix were preparing for the birth of their twin daughters. At 28 weeks into her pregnancy, Mary Frances’ water broke. She was admitted to the hospital and over the next four days received steroid shots to speed up the babies’ lung development.

Sarah and Grace were delivered by emergency Cesarean section. Sarah weighed 2 pounds, 12 ounces, and Grace weighed 2 pounds, 6 ounces. The babies were in the NICU for 12 weeks while they overcame respiratory distress, bradycardia episodes, infection, and low birth weight. At 7.4 pounds each, they came home needing several medications and apnea monitors.

Today, Sarah and Grace are almost 4 years old and show no signs of their prematurity. The Hendrix family credits the March of Dimes with the lifesaving treatments that their babies received in the hospital. Their story represents just one of the more than half a million babies born prematurely each year in this country.

Emma and William’s Journey

Emma and William Kirlin were born in Greenville on March 18, 2006, arriving seven weeks premature. They came into this world too soon and as a result had to spend 18 very long days in the NICU at the Greenville Hospital System. Because of medical advances made possible by the March of Dimes, Emma and William are here today and are healthy and happy babies.

Jonathan Lewin’s Journey

On February 27, 2002, Jonathan David Lewin was born 16 weeks premature. He weighed 1 pound, 11 ounces and was immediately taken to the NICU at MUSC. On day seven of his life, he suffered the first major set back. He had a bowel perforation and doctors told us that Jonathan probably would not survive. He did survive, but a few days later was diagnosed with a massive cerebellar brain bleed. Along with these issues he battled sepsis, enlarged kidneys, and was diagnosed with severe ROP, which required eye surgery to keep him from going blind. Jonathan also had Broncho Pulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) and was on two different kinds of ventilators for over two months. Without the surfactant therapy developed through March of Dimes research, he would not have had a chance to breathe. Jonathan lived in his tiny “glass house” for three months before he weighed enough to be able to keep his body temperature regulated. On June 11, 2002, about six days after what should have been his birth date, he was discharged to go home with oxygen, a feeding tube and a heart monitor.

Today Jonathan is a very active toddler, despite the cerebellar bleed that could have made him immobile. He loves to chase his baby brother around the house and pull his wagon around the yard.  He is the happiest, most loving little guy who has never met a stranger. He goes to school and loves to ride the school bus.

Thank you for helping raise money to help babies like Jonathan!
--Melinda and David Lewin, Jonathan’s parents

Madison's Story

On Friday, November 19, 2004 after being hospitalized for 7 days. Tamara at 31 weeks pregnant was told here was nothing else St. Francis Hospital could do to stop the contractions that she was having. She was transferred to the Medical University for South Carolina to have the little miracle that was coming.

Madison was born Sunday, November 21, 2004 at 12:19am weighing 3lbs 12 ounces and 16 ¼ inches long. She had no breathing complications or health issues at the moment. Madison stayed in the hospital for 4 weeks and was able to come home on December 21, 2004 at 1 month of age. She had little hiccups in the hospital with eating and drops in oxygen but was pretty good otherwise. After Madison was home for about 3 weeks she started having severe reflux which is part of prematurity and had to be checked out for any other problems. At that time is when the doctors found a mass in her abdomen. After 3 exploratory procedures Madison at 3 months old had surgery to find out what this mass was. Tamara and Tommy where told that their daughter would only have one ovary because the mass in their tiny baby was a cyst that had destroyed her right ovary and it had to be completely removed. What a relief that it wasn’t something worse. After her surgery Madison has done well besides not being able to walk and talk properly for her age which is a common thing with prematurity so she has had months of therapy that have paid off.

Madison now a true miracle and blessing to her parents is a happy, loving 2 year old big sister to her brand new baby brother.

The Journeys of Nikkos and Silas

Nikkos and his parents Jonna and Chris Pantelis know the real meaning of being a little bundle of joy. Nikkos was born seven weeks early on February 9, 2006, weighing only five pounds.

MacKenzie and Josh Rogers also know what a great blessing their son is. Silas was born 10 weeks early on November 14, 2005 and weighed 3 lbs., 10 oz.

These boys, who are this year’s WalkAmerica Ambassadors for Spartanburg, spent a total of 45 days in the NICU. Join them at WalkAmerica to help raise awareness of the growing problem of premature birth.

Meet JaeLyn Patterson