Liana Heldman

I am proud to be walking with the BWH Strollers group to honor the incredible care that our now two-year-old Henry received during his 48 day stay in the Brigham and Women's Hospital NICU. When Henry was born at 31 weeks, he needed help to breathe, eat, and grow. The nurses, doctors, respiratory therapists, and lactation consultants improved Henry's health by providing medical care as well as supporting Jared and me in learning to parent our preemie. While we are proud of all of Henry's tubes and wires, we recognize that there are many risks associated with preterm birth. This is why I am joining the March for Babies movement. 1 in 10 babies in the United States is born preterm, and the rate is even higher for Black babies (14%) and Indigenous babies (11.7%). There is clear evidence that racism can cause preterm birth. I am excited to raise money for March of Dimes because of their work to address institutionalized racism and reduce disparities in the health care system. Please visit my fundraising page to make a donation. Together we will be part of a movement to make America a more equitable place and ensure that every pregnant person and baby is healthy.