As you know, our baby girl, Brooklyn McKynna, was born at 23 weeks gestation, 17 weeks too soon. Brooklyn spent 5 months in the NICU; 3 of those months with a ventilator breathing for her. She survived multiple blood transfusions, deadly infections, several cases of pneumonia, heart and eye surgery, pulmonary hypertension, feeding difficulties, and required oxygen to breathe up until her first birthday. Because she was born prematurely, she still has chronic lung disease and visual impairments, and requires breathing treatments and glasses, which affects her social and educational development.
During the cold season, she is confined to the home to avoid contact with “sick” people, because the common cold lands her back in the hospital. In spite of all of this, we are actually the lucky ones, as Brooklyn has had a better outcome than many of the other preemies that we have grown to know and love throughout this journey. Many of them live with debilitating disabilities that will affect them for the rest of their lives.
I can say with certainty that my child would not be alive today without the crucial research funded by March of Dimes. Because of March of Dimes, the Neonatal ICU concept was born, and my daughter had a place to continue to develop outside of the womb. Because of March of Dimes, my daughter received artificial surfactant, a substance which allowed her undeveloped lungs to expand and contract. Because of March of Dimes, and its research on nitric oxide therapy to treat pulmonary hypertension, my daughter is breathing on her own today.
Preterm birth is truly becoming a crisis in the African American community, with African-American women 50% more likely to have premature babies than any other race. While there are some obvious causes of premature birth like obesity, high blood pressure, and insufficient prenatal care, in 50% of cases, the reasons are unknown. We need answers and we deserve answers.
With that said it is imperative, that we step up and support March of Dimes through financial contributions, advocacy, and volunteerism. Join hands with March of Dimes today, so that you or someone you love won′t have to face the devastation of prematurity, birth defects or infant mortality.
Please help us and March of Dimes fight prematurity in honor of our little miracle, Brooklyn McKynna Adams, by making a donation today.
One day, all babies will be born healthy. Until then, we walk so that others parents won't have to walk in our shoes.
The mission of March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.
