Michelle Holden

Almost four years ago I received a call from my son in law, Jeff, telling me that my daughter Kellie had gone into preterm labor at 32 weeks pregnant. She was pregnant with twins and she hadn’t been feeling well that week. The doctors did what they could to try to stop the contractions, but Peyton and Paige came into our lives 8 weeks early, weighing only 3 lbs 10 oz and 3 lbs 9oz. They were so tiny. Their litle diapers were literally the size of my palm. The girls had to stay in isolettes in the NICU to regulate  their body temperature, they had feeding tubes because they weren't strong enough to take a bottle, they were given caffeine to help them with their spells when they forgot to breathe, just to name a few things. We prayed every day that the girls would continue to grow and get healthy enough to go home. With the grace of God, they came home 6 weeks later. They're now two very happy healthy almost 4 year olds. 

This past July, Kellie shared the wonderful news with us that she was going to be a mom again in March 2022, just a few days after the girls birthday. She and Jeff found out that there was only one baby this time and he was a boy. They were over the moon. In November, at just a little over 23 weeks, Kellie started experiencing contractions and her cervix was shrinking. Up to that point her pregnancy had been uneventful and everything was going well. After two days of trying to stop the contractions, the worst case scenario happened and she went into preterm labor, giving birth to their son, my grandson, Luke. The doctors and nurses in the NICU worked tirelessly to give every advantage to Luke. Kellie and Jeff were able to look into their sweet little Luke's eyes and hold his tiny hand. The doctor said that Luke knew when his mom and dad were in the room with him because his heart rate would regulate and he would just become calm. Six hours after he came into this world, he just couldn't fight anymore and Kellie and Jeff had to say goodbye to their beautiful baby boy. 

We later found out that the Kellie's preterm labor with the girls may have been attributed to an infection that was found on Peyton's placenta, called chorioamnionitis, although that may not be the reason why, and she still doesn't have the answers to why it happened with this last pregnancy. As a family, we support the March of Dimes because it supports babies and Mom. I am participating in this walk to help all moms and families experience the joy of a healthy baby. It is my hope that their research will help to prevent young mothers and fathers, and their families, from going through the heartbreak Kellie and Jeff had to experience.

For 80 years, March of Dimes has helped millions of babies survive and thrive. Now they’re building on that legacy to level the playing field for all moms and babies, no matter their age, socio-economic background or demographics. They support moms throughout their pregnancy, even when everything doesn’t go according to plan. We advocate for policies that prioritize their health. We support radical improvements to the care they receive. And they pioneer research to find solutions to the biggest health threats to moms and babies. 

What began with President Franklin D. Roosevelt's personal struggle with polio led to the creation of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, better known as March of Dimes. We pioneered the vaccine research leading to the eradication of polio in the U.S., and then we shifted focus to address some of the biggest health threats to moms and babies with innovations like folic acid, newborn screening and surfactant therapy. 

Today they educate medical professionals and the public about best practices; they support lifesaving research; they provided comfort and support to families in NICUs; and they advocate for those who need them most, moms and babies. They are stronger and more committed than ever to guiding moms through every stage of the pregnancy journey. They are fighting for the smallest among us and advocating for their health each and every day. And they do so with the tools, technology and knowledge needed to build a brighter future for us all.

With nearly 4 million babies born each year, we have a lot of work to do to help them all. The funds I raise enable March of Dimes to support research, lead programs and provide education and advocacy that truly makes a difference to families in our community and across the country. If you believe, like I do, that every baby deserves the best possible start, please march with me or make a donation to support this community effort. Together we can fight for the health of all moms and babies.