World Prematurity Awareness Day

Today, November 17, is the second annual World Prematurity Awareness Day organized by the March of Dimes.  I can't believe that I am part of the statistics that this day presents...such as,
1. Every 30 seconds, a premature baby dies.
2. 75% of these deaths are preventable.

I can't help thinking that a) my boys are two of the premature babies that have died and b) that at least one of them could have had his death prevented.  Every day I feel like Sammy shouldn't have died.  I feel like there HAD to have been something else that could have been done...every day.  Nothing I do now can fix it or bring him back, so now I just move forward.

As part of moving forward for me, I feel like I need to make it my mission to be able to raise awareness and money to help researchers find reasons why firstly, premature babies are born, and secondly how to prevent babies born prematurely from dying.

In high school I always participated in the March of Dimes and volunteered to work the local event through FBLA.  Now, I have even MORE of a reason to participate in the event.  This coming year, I plan to team up with another baby loss momma who lost twins shortly after Sammy and Andy.  The two of us are going to group all our friends together to raise money and walk in memory of our twins.  My personal goal is to get at least 20 people on our team and to raise at least $1000 myself.  I'm hoping our entire team can raise at least $5000.  I will use my Scentsy and craft businesses to raise money the month leading up to the event.  I will use both to donate toward my $1000 goal. :)  The March of Dimes provided us with a number of resources while we were in the NICU.  I appreciate it all and it was one of my main sources of information.  I believe in their cause and always have.  Now, I just have even more of a reason to.

Additionally, the hospital the boys were born at has an event in October, the Hero Half.  My goal is to be able to run the half marathon in honor of the boys.  And again, I personally want to raise a goal of $1000...and I am thinking I will do the same with my Scentsy and craft business the month leading up to this event, too.

I believe in these causes and what they do for children like mine.  I don't think ANY other mom should have to go through what I have and anything I can do to make it easier for those that do have to go through it is what I will make my mission...  I'm trying to figure out things to do for the hospital to help bereaved families, too.  I just feel like things can always be bettered.  And I feel like I have to do all of these things in order to honor my boys and help their memories live on......