MARCH FOR BABIES: A MOTHER OF A MOVEMENT™
Cedar Valley
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Gateway Park
Lincoln & Main Sts. Gateway Park, Cedar Falls, IA 50613
Date: Saturday, April 22, 2017 10:00 AM
Lincoln & Main Sts. Gateway Park, Cedar Falls, IA 50613
Date: Saturday, April 22, 2017 10:00 AM
Our ambassador
The Ackerson Family
The Ackerson Family
In 2014, we were ecstatic to be expanding our family with two babies- twins! After a rough first trimester, we were shocked when an infection caused Emily to go into labor at just 23 weeks 5 days gestation. After heading to Unity Point Allen Hospital, she was immediately transferred to Unity Point St. Luke's in Cedar Rapids via ambulance. Labor couldn't be stopped, and 17 weeks prematurely, the twins were born on December 13, 2014 at 6:19pm. Our son Gabriel weighed 1 lb., 11.9 oz., while our daughter Nora was 1 lb., 3.1 oz. They were immediately transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Within the first weeks Gabriel had developed stage 1 and 2 brain bleeds, meningitis, staph infection, sepsis, NEC, eye issues, BPD, and blood transfusions. Nora had developed stage 4 bilateral brain bleeds in the first week, hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain due to the brain bleeds), staph infection, sepsis, eye issues, BPD, and blood transfusions. At 21 days of life, Nora was transferred from St. Luke’s to the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital. Just four days later they did surgery to place a reservoir under her scalp as a temporary way to remove the fluid on her brain. Then a week later Nora had surgery to close her PDA heart valve.
After 128 long days we got to bring Gabriel home. But Nora remained in the NICU, as her journey and fight has been difficult. After weeks of researching shunt alternatives, we found a surgery called an Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy with a Chord Plexus Cauterization (ETV/CPC), a new surgery that basically reroutes and slows the fluid down in her brain. On May 12, Nora had this ETV/CPC surgery in Madison, Wisconsin. On May 30, 2015 after 168 days in the NICU, we got to bring Nora home. She was only home for a week and a half before needing to return to Madison for a repeat ETV surgery.
Gabriel and Nora were in 3 different NICU’s, 2 states, Gabriel having 2 surgeries (heart PDA and Umbilical Hernia), Nora having 4 surgeries (heart PDA and 3 brain surgeries). Gabriel and Nora are now 2 years old. It has been a long road and will continue to be for a few years as we have follow-ups, physical and occupational therapy, among other appointments for Nora. They continue to conquer things that we were told they may never do. They have come a long way and are tough little miracles and we couldn’t be more thankful and blessed! We are grateful for all of the research and work of the March of Dimes that helped to save their lives.
Matt, Emily, Gabriel and Nora Ackerson
NATIONAL PARTNERS
Thank you to our local sponsors