Daddy’s wedding ring could fit on their tiny wrists.
At two pounds, 5 ounces and three pounds, three ounces they were larger than life.
I was in love.
BUT…
They couldn’t come home with me.
They were too fragile and too tiny.
My heart was breaking.
Unlike so many babies born too soon, their story doesn’t end there. Ethan and Zach were born nine weeks early, but they are now healthy nine-year-old boys who are full of life.
The March of Dimes is a wonderful organization who’s mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. Through research, community services, education and advocacy they save babies’ lives.Every year the March of Dimes coordinates a walk to raise support for programs in our very own communities that help moms have healthy, full-term pregnancies. Walking in March for Babies, you give hope to the more than half a million babies born too soon each year. The money you raise also funds research to find answers to the problems that threaten our babies.
One of the national sponsors of March for Babies is Famous Footwear, which is the sole (no pun intended) provider of the official shoe of March for Babies – the Dr. Scholl’s Inferno shoe. To share the excitement as this year’s March for Babies walk season begins, Famous Footwear has given me a $25 Famous Footwear gift card to give to one of you!
Here’s how to enter for a chance to win:
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- Head over and meet baby Alex, before 9pm on April 30th, then come back here and tell me what you learned about what the March of Dimes has already done to help.
Want a few bonus entries? Leave me a separate comment for each of the following:
- Join a team, or perhaps even start your own, to March for Babies in your community. Leave me a comment with your teams name and the date of your walk.
- Subscribe to our RSS feed.
- Follow me on Twitter – I’m YoungMommy – and tweet the following, up to once a day through April 30th :: Enter to win a $25 Famous Footwear gift card in celebration of the March for Babies :: http://dlvr.it/WHCt #D2Dgvwy.
- One winner will be selected at random, and will be notified by email. Winner will then have 24 hours to respond before forfeiting their prize.
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There are 900 March for Babies events taking place nationwide to support the March of Dimes mission to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Find an event near you.
Benefited giveaway
{ 100 comments… read them below or add one }
That is a cute beautiful baby. My grandmother used to make baby shoes in spare time. She would use crochet or some other materials she had in hand. Right now it’s hard to find hand-made footwear.
Helped with the heart.
a drop of blood from baby’s heel can save a life
following your twitter tweet
http://twitter.com/MeandBells/status/12241092224
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They develop treatments to cure vision defects.
tweeted http://twitter.com/cdziuba/status/12242645294 and I follow on Twitter cdziuba
feed subscriber
I learned the March of Dimes was started to try and cure Polio back in the 30′s, which it did! FDR told people to send in dimes to help find a cure and the American people followed in a big way!
prevent premies mverno@roadrunner.com
They’re working on preventing oral clefts after discovering a gene that causes them.
They’ve identified a gene that is responsible for cleft pallets. I am familiar with March of Dimes (I’ve walked 3 years) but never knew about that research. Thank you for sharing about this cause!
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I subscribed to your blog
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I follow you on twitter and tweeted!
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newborn screening
tvollowitz at aol dot com
The March of Dimes has done many wonderful things since they began their work. They have eradicated the polio virus and now they help find ways to prevent premature birth. They are also responsible for much of the newborn screening that takes place in hospitals across the country.
Most importantly, the March of Dimes is close to my heart because of my son, Bronx who was born prematurely with respiratory distress syndrome. He is now a happy, healthy eight month old.
To show our appreciation for what the March of Dimes has done for our family, we are walking in this year’s March for Babies as TEAM BRONX.
Thank you so much for bringing awareness to this great cause!
Our walk date (for Team Bronx) is Saturday, April 24th.
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Money the March of Dimes has collected has resulted in research that identified the gene responsible for oral cleft…great organization. I just saw a PBS program on the March of Dimes and polio.
tweet
http://twitter.com/MeandBells/status/12292051163
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Dee Snider of “Twisted Sister” had two children born prematurely. Every year he runs two or more events for the “March of Dimes” called “Bikers for Babies Run”. These bike runs are a lot of fun and for a good cause. This year’s event out here on Long Island will be:
Sunday, May 23rd, join Rock’n'Roll Legend Dee Snider for the 8th Annual Bikers for Babies Ride, to benefit the March of Dimes.
Registration begins at 9:00am at Town Park at Point Lookout, Lido Blvd in Point Lookout, NY.
Kickstands up at 11:00am sharp.
Donation is $20 per rider / $15 per passenger and includes a Bikers for Babies commemorative shirt.
Pre-register now by calling (516) 496-8442 or online at BikersForBabies.org.
This Run for Babies will take us around Long Island and back to Point Lookout for a post-run party with live entertainment, a custom bike show and contest, vendors and more.
Come ride with Dee Snider and WBAB and be a part of one of Long Island’s biggest Motorcycle Runs!
The March of Dimes appreciates the continued support of our Motorcycle Community.
Details here: http://wbab.com/event_guide/bikersforbabies2010.html
I didn’t realize the March of Dimes helped the children born with cleft palates! Thanks.
I learned that they aree working on preventing oral clefts after discovering a gene that causes them.
They are fighting premature brain. The brain needs 9 months to develop.
They do newborn screening. My son had that done in the hospital (he has a heart condition so they checked for any underlying causes) and it was so great to be at peace that he was going to be ok.
I learned that the Money the March of Dimes has collected has resulted in research that identified the gene responsible for oral cleft. What a great organization.
tinap
tinajanet1@verizon.net
all the reasearch has gone a long way!!!
tweet
http://twitter.com/MeandBells/status/12462778048
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I read that The March of Dimes is working on preventing oral clefts.
March of Dimes was started to try and cure Polio back in the 30’s and it succeeded!
The March of Dimes is activally working on oral clefts! They are an amazing group.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net
I learned that March of Dimes is working hard to discover reasons for prematurity and birth defects and to help fix them.
I learned that 20,000 companies big and small who walk in March for Babies each year and I learned identified a gene that is responsible for cleft pallets
ctazie(at)aol(dot)com
Follow you on twitter
@flychild7
tweeted:
http://twitter.com/flychild7/status/12563867043
ctazie(at)aol(dot)com
tweet
http://twitter.com/MeandBells/status/12587344004
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They already provide newborn screenings for preemies! I donate every year, my nieces were preemie.
http://twitter.com/DesMoinesDealin/status/12604900093
I learned they are working on preventing oral clefts after discovering a gene that causes them.
Reply
They identified a gene responsible for oral cleft and are working on preventions.
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Better survival for the tiniest heart patients – so crucial. One of my friends lost her baby after 9 days and 2 complicated heart surgeries. Little Hazel just couldn’t quite make it. Hopefully research will help other babies survive.
tweet
http://twitter.com/MeandBells/status/12680774852
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As a retired labor & delivery nurse, I can’t say I learned anything about what the March of Dimes is doing, but I was glad to see the folic acid intake being highlighted. That is one thing that every woman can do for herself to help prevent CNS defects. Education about it is key.
the march of dimes spends 76¢ of every dollar you raise in March for Babies to support research and programs that help babies begin healthy lives.
The March of Dimes is developing treatments to cure vision defects….that is one way they have helped baby Alex.
Thank you.
tweet
http://twitter.com/MeandBells/status/12743294204
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I learned that they have identified the gene responsible for oral cleft and are working on prevention.
runningmatey at hotmail dot com
follow on twitter and tweet
http://twitter.com/LuckyDuckyToo/status/12744272515
runningmatey at hotmail dot com
tweet
http://twitter.com/MeandBells/status/12766086708
.-= courtney´s last blog ..Smart Cover Review + Giveaway =-.
They work on trying to prevent oral clefts.
tweet
http://twitter.com/MeandBells/status/12845730784
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tweet
http://twitter.com/LuckyDuckyToo/status/12849910956
runningmatey at hotmail dot com
I learned that their folic acid education leads to fewer neural tube defects
I subscribe to your RSS feed via google reader
I follow through twitter and tweeted
http://twitter.com/jjak2003/statuses/12864719210
Their developing treatments to cure vision defects.
I follow you on twitter and tweeted! http://twitter.com/her5boys480/status/12900280626
March of Dimes is developing treatments to help with vision defects.
tweet
http://twitter.com/LuckyDuckyToo/status/12904235565
runningmatey at hotmail dot com
tweet
http://twitter.com/MeandBells/status/12904949277
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tweet
http://twitter.com/LuckyDuckyToo/status/12977694226
runningmatey at hotmail dot com
The March of Dimes spends 76¢ of every dollar you raise in March for Babies to support research and programs that help babies begin healthy lives.
IM subscribed by rss feed
tweet
http://twitter.com/LuckyDuckyToo/status/13040964949
runningmatey at hotmail dot com
They are working on vision defects.
tweet
http://twitter.com/MeandBells/status/13047088391
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they aparently gave her a purple hat.
The March of Dimes is amazing. I’m always amazed at how children are helped so much and able to grow up to live fulfilling lives. I learned that a gene for oral cleft was identified, so now preventions are being researched.
They do newborn screenings.
I learned that folic acid education means fewer babies are born with neural tube defects.
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RSS Subscriber
.-= Sonya´s last blog ..Winners List for 4/20! =-.
They are developing treatments to cure vision defects.
I follow on Twitter @pittsy82 and tweeted http://twitter.com/pittsy82/status/13091246388
I subscribe via RSS Google Reader
New treatments means better survival rates for the tiniest heart patients
I follow you on twitter [pkbailey01] & tweeted
http://twitter.com/pkbailey01/status/13098644378
tweet
http://twitter.com/LuckyDuckyToo/status/13100155359
runningmatey at hotmail dot com
The March of Dimes spends 76¢ of every dollar you raise in March for Babies to support research and programs that help babies begin healthy lives.
I learned that the March of Dimes was started to try and cure Polio back in the 30’s – and succeeded (and had the happy problem of having to reinvent their mission).
i learned that they are who eliminated polio! thats a great thing
March of Dimes is developing ways to cure vision defects.
March of Dimes is fighting Premature Birth
digicat {AT} sbcglobal {DOT} net
i learned they develop treatments to cure vision defects
Tweeted http://twitter.com/pittsy82/status/13130401889
Daily tweet
http://twitter.com/pkbailey01/status/13134422428
I learned that because of the March Of Dimes, polio was cured!
They are developing treatments for vision defects. Thanks.
trying to fight premature births&cleft
ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com
What a beautiful baby! One thing I learned is that folic acid education helps reduce neural tube deficits in the spine. Thanks for the great giveaway!
I subscribed to your RSS feed via google reader: gkaufmanss@yahoo.com
I’m following you on twitter (@guettel78), and I tweeted: http://twitter.com/guettel78/status/13146677501
They are developing treatments to cure vision defects.
baby’s brain need 9 months to develop
tweet
http://twitter.com/MeandBells/status/13157375000
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Subscribe to RSS feed.
twitter follower
Folic acid education helps prevent neural tube defects. As a neuro nurse I know how important that is. Thanks.
tweet
http://twitter.com/LuckyDuckyToo/status/13164532045
runningmatey at hotmail dot com
They’ve identified a gene for oral clefts!
I subscribe in RSS
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I follow on twitter and tweeted: http://twitter.com/speech_hero/status/13165992782
PS: although my husband and I were not able to have biological children and so in that way I have little in common with you… I feel like I know you somehow. Maybe I’m just in love with your family picture.
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March of Dimes was started to try and cure Polio.
i learned that there will be 1 million people walking with their families or co-workers in more than 900 communities.