Lois Stoopak

Today in the U.S., 1 in every 8 babies will be born prematurely. Some of them won't survive, and others will have health problems that could last a lifetime. The funds we raise with the "March for Babies" support research that saves babies' lives. Evan's Story: I am one of the lucky ones. I was born at 26 weeks gestational age when my mother's blood pressure spiked to 180/120, and her doctors feared she was going to have a stroke. I was delivered via emergency c-section, and weighed only 1 lb 8 oz. The first 95 days of my life were a constant struggle in the NICU of Morristown, NJ. For the first two weeks that I was there, they stuck a tube down my throat and hooked me up to a machine that breathed for me. I was treated for a hole in my heart, and I had three blood transfusions by the time I was two weeks old. For the next two months I still needed continuous oxygen to help me remember to breathe. Finally, after three long months, and lots of love and care from all of my nurses and doctors, I came home weighing 6 lb and 6 oz. Like I said, I was lucky. I didn't need any of the surgeries that some of my friends needed. I did not have any brain hemorrhages that could have caused permanent damage. I went home without any monitors or medications. That is one of the biggest reasons that I volunteer for the March of Dimes. One of their primary missions is to eliminate premature birth. Up to half of all premature births (including mine) are not explainable. The March of Dimes hopes to change that. In 2009, my family was lucky enough to welcome my baby brother Kyle. He was born one month early, and was lucky to not experience any of my early complications. My family walks for all babies...sick babies like me, healthy babies like Kyle and all those other babies that are not lucky enough to be brought home to their families. Please remember my story and the thousands of other stories that are just like mine. Support the March of Dimes. If you can not participate in the March for Babies, support someone who is participating.