For 11 years, my husband and I prayed for a child of our own to love, hold, and cherish. We experienced 6 miscarriages within the first trimester. Then in October 2014, we got the exciting news that we were expecting. We prayed and remained faithful. We followed strict doctor’s orders and were very careful. Everything was going great. I went to the doctor once per week and all was well. So on January 15, 2015, our family and friends joined together to anxiously find out that we were expecting a baby boy! I finally announced to the world that I was expecting, because all of my other losses were only shared with my immediate circle. I was happy and proud to hold something so precious inside of me. Things were looking up for the Mayo Family! We could finally see the light flickering at the end of the tunnel. But all this came to an end when I lost my son at 18 weeks. We thought we had lost our light. However, after a few weeks we realized this was a blessing and not a loss. Since I had finally made it to my 2nd trimester, my doctors and I were one step closer to my dream of being a mother. We had finally found some treatments that worked to get us this far and my faith was stronger than ever before. Although I was hurting, I knew I could not give up. A few months later, we got the news that I was expecting again. This time my doctors took more precautions and did more research. However, this pregnancy was not without challenges. I went through a number of health crises and situations. I had surgery at 14 weeks to treat a possible incompetent uterus and at 18 weeks I was admitted to the hospital with more complications. I remained in the hospital until I was 23 weeks with the exception of 2-3 days. Everything was done to keep my daughter from coming early. However, it was unavoidable. My daughter had to be delivered via an emergency cesarean section after my water broke at 23 weeks and 5 days. I felt blessed to have my baby girl. But I was scared to say the least. I was beginning a new journey that came with a different set of challenges, but I knew that God and technology were on my side. To have a premature baby is difficult emotionally, financially, physically, and mentally. To leave the hospital without your baby was heartbreaking. Still, I was thankful that she was alive. She was born weighing 1 pound 1 ounce and 11 inches long. She experienced a number of health challenges and stayed in the hospital for 117 days. I can still remember like it was yesterday, my baby would often stop breathing, but on January 9, 2016 I personally witnessed these events. My baby stopped breathing and did not respond to the nurse or respiratory therapist in their attempts to catch her breath. Her small little four pound body turned blue and became limp and there was nothing I could do but pray. Thankfully, the wonderful staff of Midtown Medical Center did not give up on my precious baby. They fought hard and I prayed and finally she responded! It was probably only a few minutes total but they were the longest minutes of my life. She was diagnosed with a swallowing disorder and had to stay in the NICU longer than expected but she was ALIVE! She got stronger and we got wiser. Her doctors introduced a treatment plan to assist her breathing and swallowing that worked! On February 11, 2015, I finally took my baby home. I am so thankful for the research and breakthroughs that helped my baby make it from 1 pound to 7 pounds. This research helped my baby to stay alive for 117 days in the NICU until she was strong enough to come home. This would not be possible without the donations provided to the March of Dimes. Those donations support the very research that is used to develop treatment plans for precious babies like my Catrise. Catrise is now a healthy, happy, busy 3 year old toddler. I can’t thank the March of Dimes enough for their support of mothers and babies!