In 2025, our world changed forever.
Our daughter, Kiara, was born at 31 weeks due to placental insufficiency. After years of trying and a handful of losses, including a late second trimester loss, our miracle was finally here. She weighed just 2 pounds, 6 ounces — tiny, fragile, and absolutely perfect.
About 1 in 10 babies in the United States is born prematurely, meaning before 37 weeks. Many of these babies require specialized care in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Prematurity is one of the leading causes of infant complications and can come with challenges that families never expect.
Kiara spent 67 days in the NICU. Thankfully, her journey was uneventful medically — mostly focused on feeding, growing, and gaining weight. But even an “uneventful” NICU stay is filled with uncertainty, anxiety, monitors, alarms, long nights, and the emotional weight of leaving your baby behind each day.
What makes our story even more personal is that I was a NICU nurse for about 7 years. I have stood at the bedside for so many families. I have cared for premature babies and supported anxious parents. But nothing could have prepared me for standing on the other side — as a mother.
Being a NICU mom opened my eyes in a completely different way. I understood the medicine — but I felt the fear. I knew the statistics — but I lived the waiting, in the “what ifs”. Every night I called the nurse, anxiously waiting to see if Kiara had any “episodes” and hoped for even 20 grams of weight gain. The experience humbled me and strengthened me.
Today, Kiara is one year old and thriving. She is strong, joyful, and full of life. We are beyond blessed and grateful. But we also know that not every family’s journey is uneventful. Not every baby comes home as smoothly.
That’s why we march.
We march for the 1 in 10 babies born too soon.
We march for NICU families navigating uncertainty.
We march for research, resources, and hope.
And we march in celebration of our tiny but mighty miracle — Kiara.
Thank you for supporting Team Kiara-The Miracle, The Warrior and helping give every baby the best possible start. 💜
March of Dimes is dedicated to bringing people together to tackle America's maternal and infant health crisis—one person, one community, and one step at a time. More than a series of walks, March for Babies is an annual tradition that supports moms and babies every day, every step of the way.
March for Babies connects friends, families, and coworkers to improve the health of families nationwide. Together with March of Dimes, each step forward brings us closer to a healthy future for all.
Thank you for your support!
Thank you to our local sponsors
