Jordan's Dream Team hanging out next to Jordan's sign!
Mr. Miracle, tired and asleep~
On April 26th, along with family and friends, I participated in my first walk in Newport Beach to support March for Babies. It is an annual event put on by the March of Dimes Foundation, whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.
Ever since my premature birth, mommy and daddy have been very active in the community by supporting local children's hospitals and organizations that are dedicated to providing education, awareness, and assistance to families and their babies. As many of you already know, I was born 16 weeks too early weighing only 1lb 12oz, and endured a long stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Hoag and CHOC at Orange. After going through multiple surgeries to my heart, intestines, and eyes, and being on the ventilator for quite some time, I came home with mommy and daddy after 159 LONG days and miraculously, I have not had any major issues to this day. I am still followed by my opthalmologist, gastroenterologist, physical therapist, and pediatrician. I visit my NICU doctors and nurses occasionally and they are all amazed at how far I've come along. They still can't believe that I'm an ex-24 weeker preemie!
It is still scary to think that when I was born, doctors told mommy and daddy that my chances of survival would be slim and that I may not even make it to my first birthday. Well guess what? I just celebrated my FIRST birthday two months ago!! Woohoo!!
THANKS A MILLION to all those who came to participate in the walk and especially to everyone who sponsored me with your generous donations! With your help, we raised $1068!!
We hope to see you all again next year! ^_^
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It's a national tragedy...
More than 17% of all babies who die are lost to their loving families because they were born prematurely! One in every eightbabies is born too soon, many so small they must fight to survive. Premature birth has increased more than 20 percent since 1990. Despite what many believe, premature birth can happen to any pregnant woman -- and in half the cases, the causes are unknown.
The March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign seeks to find the causes of premature birth and ways to prevent it. That is why we ask you to support our efforts with all your heart -- and with your most generous gift.
Since 1938, the March of Dimes has achieved a track record of advances that protect babies' health.
1950s -- Salk polio vaccine declared effective1960s -- PKU newborn screening test developed
1970s -- Regionalized system of newborn intensive care units (NICUs) developed
1980s -- Surfactant therapy to treat respiratory distress syndrome developed
1990s -- Successful gene therapy for hemophilia and certain forms of blindness developed in lab
2000s -- Folic acid awareness and education contributed to a 21 percent decline in neural tube birth defects between 1995 and 2001.
~ Preparing for Pregnancy Checklist ~
Do you know someone who is pregnant or planning to become pregnant? Perhaps a friend, a sister, a daughter, or a granddaughter. Show her you care by talking to her about some of the steps she can take to help her baby be born healthy.
If you're not yet pregnant...
* Start taking folic acid- Folic acid is a B vitamin that may help reduce your baby's risk for birth defects of the brain and spine, known as neural tube defects. It is crucial that folic acid be taken before and during early pregnancy. So even if you are not contemplating becoming pregnant soon, begin taking folic acid now so your body is ready when that day comes. The March of Dimes recommends taking 400 micrograms of folic acid every day as part of a healthy diet. You can get enough by taking a multivitamin or a folic acid supplement every day, or by eating a fortified breakfast cereal that contains 100% of the recommended daily amount of folic acid. Additional foods that contain folic acid include enriched grain products, green leafy vegetables, oranges and orange juice.
* See your healthcare provider now if you're thinking about getting pregnant- Get a preconception health checkup to find out how best to prepare yourself for pregnancy and have the healthiest baby possible.
* Adopt healthy habits - Women who are pregnant or planning to be should adopt healthy habits. That means no smoking or drinking and being sure to check with a health care provider before taking any prescription or over-the-counter drugs.
* Achieve your ideal weight- It's best for women who are planning to have a baby to achieve their ideal weight before they conceive. Getting plenty of exercise is important too.
* Know your medical history - A woman planning a pregnancy should be sure to tell her health care provider about her family's medical history. Conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and infections should be well under control before pregnancy.
* Get all immunizations - It's best to find out what immunizations are needed and to get them before conceiving. * Avoid hazards- Pregnant women need to avoid toxic substances and chemicals in the environment. For example, let someone else empty or clean the cat's litter box and avoid children's sandboxes as cats may use them as litter box.
* Avoid stress- Keeping stress to a minimum during pregnancy is a good idea for the health of both mother and baby. If you're already pregnant... Take care of yourself. Make healthy choices about eating and exercise. And schedule regular prenatal visits with your physician. Don't drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, or take any drugs except those approved by your health care provider.
Contact the Pregnancy & Newborn Health Education Center at the March of Dimes. Get confidential answers to questions about pregnancy, including the signs of preterm labor and what to do about them.
Please visit our website at marchofdimes.com or email us at askus@marchofdimes.com
It's never too late to quit!
If you know a pregnant woman who smokes, please pass along this important information: Smoking doubles a woman's risk of having a low-birthweight baby. But a pregnant woman who stops smoking by the end of her first trimester is no more likely to have a low-birthweight baby than a woman who never smoked. Even quitting during the third trimester improves the baby's growth.
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