March of Dimes 2013

I have talked a lot about how I want to make my boys' lives have meaning.  One of the things I'm doing is the March of Dimes.  I've always tried to stay involved in March of Dimes.  It was an FBLA project in high school and last year I was planning to walk it in honor of my friend's little boy Jaxson who was born 9 weeks early (before the ovarian hyperstim knocked me on my butt).  This year, I will walk it not only in memory of Samuel & Andrew but in memory of my friend's girls, Aryelle & Kendall.

Tuesday I went to the kick off for our local event with a very good friend.  Going back to the hospital has not been difficult for me.  I'm there a lot.  I just haven't quite gotten to a point where I can step foot in the other end of the building...the North Entrance...by the ICN and BP....not there yet.  I'm getting closer though!  I actually started considering doing photography for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep.  Soon.

Moving forward...the kick off was amazing.  If you haven't had a chance to check out the Ambassador family's video on the March for Babies site, go do it.  It's beautiful.  And it struck home.  I was doing okay with tears until I heard Chris Centofanti speak.  Everything she said rung so true and so close to home.  Beautiful spoken.  And when I met her...I can't say enough good things.  She suffered from HELLP when her daughter Nina was born 9 weeks early.  She gave me hope.

March of Dimes for us is on May 11 at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.  It's 3 miles in memory of my boys and Kristy's girls.  Our team is Four-Ever Remembered...honoring our four beautiful babies.  I like to think that if this hadn't happened maybe Kristy and I still would have met and our babies would have been the best of friends.  But I also know that this all happening is why we were destined to meet.  She has been my support.  Someone to talk to who knows exactly how I feel RIGHT now.  People who have been through it 2-3 years ago are also a great help, but someone who is going through it right now...that's a blessing in disguise.

Our team goal is $5,000.  That would put us the highest fundraiser than in past years for our location.  And I'm determined to meet it.  I'm working on some pretty awesome ideas right now. :)  And in the meantime, anyone and everyone can help!  If we can get 50 people to raise $100 each, we'd make our goal!  Right now we have about 20 people signed up...that's only 30 more! :)

How can you help?  If you're local, sign up to walk!  Go to http://www.marchforbabies.org/ and create your own personal fundraising page and search for our team "Four-Ever Remembered" and join!  If you're not local but want to help, my page is http://www.marchforbabies.org/personal_page.asp?pp=4093048&ct=4&w=5821879&u=melliott08 and you can make an online donation!

The March of Dimes helps raise awareness as well as provides money for research on premature birth and the NICU.  Money raised supports research that could help find ways to prevent HELLP.  It also supports research that could help detect NEC earlier...or treat pneumonia in micropreemies.  You never know how it could help save a baby's life like one of my boys or Kristy's girls.  You just never know.  Think, 30 years ago, I would not have even had a chance with my 24 weekers.  Because of money raised through the March of Dimes and research done with that money, I got 3 days and 25 days with my two beautiful sons.

Thank you in advance for supporting me in my goal to help the March of Dimes!