Our son, Brady John, was born prematurely at 26+5 on January 15th, 2017. He weighed 1 lb. 1 oz. and was 11 inches long. He was complete perfection. We were amazed by his energy, feistiness, and sweetness. We weren't allowed to hold him, but we made sure to give him plenty of "hand hugs" and helped with his cares (diaper changes, temperature readings, etc.) as much as possible. He needed lots of help - a ventilator for breathing, and lots of IVs and lines to get him the nutrition and medications he needed. Though Brady was given great odds at birth (a 95% chance of survival), he developed an infection on January 28th and passed away early on the 29th. We love our little man so much and miss him every second of every day.
His early delivery was necessary because I developed severe preeclampsia and HELLP Syndrome - life-threatening pregnancy complications. At this time, there is no way to determine why I was impacted by these complications, and there is currently no way to 100% prevent either condition from happening or stop its progression once it starts - so research is needed.
The March of Dimes funds vital research to prevent birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. Brady received several treatments developed through March of Dimes research including surfactant (to help his lungs open) and nitric oxide therapy (to improve oxygenation).
Together we can help the March of Dimes fight prematurity so more babies can get the strongest start possible. There are several ways you can help Team Brady John make a difference:
1. March with us! I'm excited to share that we will be walking in person again this year! Our walk is at the Mall of America on May 6, 2023.
2. Buy a t-shirt or onesie for your littles. We have onesies in sizes 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months and t-shirts from size 2 to youth XL. They are $12 each and profits will be donated to Team Brady John and the March of Dimes. Email [email protected] with the sizes you'd like. Paypal, Venmo, check or cash are accepted.
3. Make a donation. Click on the "Donate" button to make a secure donation and help us help others with the help of our little man.
In addition to supporting a wonderful cause, your donation also supports us personally. Raising money for the March of Dimes is how we choose to keep Brady's memory alive and help others in his honor. We hope that by raising money for the March of Dimes, we can prevent outcomes like ours from happening to other families.
Thank you for your support!
-Becca and Jeff Schmitz
With preterm birth rates continuing to rise, the U.S. remains among the most dangerous developed nations for childbirth, especially for women and babies of color.
At March for Babies: A Mother of a Movement™ you're lifting up communities, creating connections and taking action to make America a more equitable place and ensure that every mom and baby is healthy.
Together, we’re marching to raise funds and awareness to transform the health of all families!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
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