This is a subject near and dear to me… As most of you know, Abby and Grace were born almost two months early and spent a month in the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Thanks to great doctors and nurses (and a great NICU facility), they’re doing great now. As you can imagine, not all babies are as lucky.
Over the past twenty years, the number of premature births has increased by almost 30%. And in half of these cases, the cause is unkown. Most of these babies do very well, but some suffer a variety of long-term affects. The March of Dimes, they of FDR and polio vaccine fame, is putting its considerable weight behind tackling this issue. In 2003, the March of Dimes launched a massive Prematurity Campaign to support the work of top researchers and to assist and educate families across the country. You can read more about this effort on their website.
What can you do to help? There are a few easy ways…
- Prematurity Awareness Day is November 16.
- You can sign the petition heading for Washington to support research funding.
- Make a small donation to help.
- Make a donation to buy a band (like the one above) in honor of a premature baby you know
- Use the little email symbol below (or this link) to send this article to other people you know!
Thanks for your help!