MARCH FOR BABIES: A MOTHER OF A MOVEMENT™
Memphis
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Shelby Farms Park
6903 Great View Drive North , Memphis, TN 38017
Date: Saturday, May 04, 2019 9:00 AM
6903 Great View Drive North , Memphis, TN 38017
Date: Saturday, May 04, 2019 9:00 AM
Our ambassador
The Drace Family
The Drace Family
Drew and I were thrilled and excited to find out we were expecting twins. We thought this pregnancy was going to be smooth and easy, but our world was about to be turned upside down. I never thought I would use the words like NICU, emergency c section, tube feeding, cpap, and decels when talking about my babies. I started seeing a high-risk OB doctor at 8 weeks due to early on issues. We were monitored carefully every 2 weeks going to both our regular OB and to our high-risk OB. We discovered at 16 weeks we were adding a boy and girl to our family. We were over the moon and loved them from day 1.
At 24 weeks, we noticed I was having regular contractions. We called our OB and headed to the ER. We found out quickly that I was in labor and they admitted us. We were able to stop labor and were discharged on medications. We knew it was a waiting game from this moment on. At 28 weeks, we again went into labor and headed back to the hospital. Labor was stopped again, but now we were maxed out on medications and the physicians told us all we could do was pray. We were able to go home with strict orders of bedrest and 4 appointments a week. Every appointment was terrifying not knowing what the future held. At 33 weeks, we were sent back into the hospital for monitoring like the many times before, but this time was different. While admitted to the hospital our daughter started having decels, she could no longer handle the contractions and medications. At about 11:20pm our room was rushed with about 10 people telling us the babies had to come now. We knew our babies were in trouble. I was scared and fearful pleading with God to save my babies and praying harder than I ever have. I was rushed for an emergency c section. On September 11, 2014 within seconds apart we welcomed our twins Levi Andrew and Hannah Marie. We got a quick glimpse of our boy, but our daughter was worked on and then taken to the NICU to be stabilized. The next morning, I was able to be brought down to see them for the first time.
Our NICU journey was a roller-coaster ride. This was one of the hardest things I have ever done. Nobody could have prepared me for the emotions I would feel. As I went into the NICU full of alarms, tubes, lines, and noises I saw my sweet babies. My heart was overfilled with joy that they were alive and here. I learned how to care for my babies with all the cords and tubes. The NICU nurses and doctors were amazing and helped me through each day. We counted grams not ounces, we celebrated when they graduated to the “big boy and girl” beds, and for eating out of bottles. We were discharged after 11 days and were thrilled to finally have all our family under one roof. We now have healthy 4-year olds who are full of life and adventure. We are so thankful for the research and medical advancements that saved our babies lives.
We are so thankful to be chosen as the Ambassador Family for the March of Dimes. We are honored to share our story and bring awareness of prematurity. We want to stand with all those fighting for healthy moms and babies. Levi and Hannah are proof that miracles do happen. March of Dimes fights for our twins and all babies worldwide.
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