March for Babies
Mercer County PA
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Thiel College
730 Forker Road , Sharon, PA 16146
Date: Sunday, May 06, 2018 12:30 PM
730 Forker Road , Sharon, PA 16146
Date: Sunday, May 06, 2018 12:30 PM
Our ambassador
Luke Davis
Luke Davis
In February 2016, Theresa and Luke were eagerly awaiting the arrival of their fourth child, a son Luke. Baby Luke’s arrival was marred by concerns that he exhibited symptoms of Apert Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder characterized by abnormal skull formation and fusion of the bones, of the hands and feet. Baby Luke also had difficulty breathing and had a cleft palate which caused difficulty feeding and swallowing. He was flown to the NICU where physicians could provide highly specialized care.
It was a difficult time for Theresa and Lew. Spending time in the NICU can be frightening and overwhelming for parents, especially when they had to leave their three other boys in the care of family and friends while staying with Luke in the NICU. After 18 days and the first of nine surgeries to help Luke breathe, he was finally able to go home to his family.
Luke’s journey has been very challenging since leaving the NICU. He has had three cranial surgeries to make room for his growing brain. Luke has had the first of many planned surgeries on his hands and feet. Most recently, he has been healing from complications from his third cranial surgery. His palate was repaired in May, 2016 and his parents are anxious for him to be able to speak.
Each year in the United States, more than 120,000 babies are born with a birth defect. There are thousands of different birth defects, affecting the structure or function of every part of the human body. The March of Dimes provides grants to researchers, with the goal of understanding the causes of birth defects and developing new ways to prevent and treat them. Currently, about 70 percent of the causes of birth defects are unknown.
Genetics has long been a main theme of the March of Dimes research. Grantees have discovered genes that cause or contribute to a number of common birth defects, including fragile X syndrome, cleft lip and palate and heart defects. These discoveries pave the way for treatments and preventions for those birth defects.
Luke’s parents, Theresa and Lew, know the significant role that the March of Dimes research played in helping Luke grow and thrive. As the 2018 Mercer County Ambassador Family they will share their story and help raise awareness of premature birth and birth defects. They hope their story can provide promise for other families and help the March of Dimes give every baby a fighting chance.
National partners
Thank you to our local sponsors