Fight for Preemies

*I meant to post this yesterday, November 17.

500,000...half a million...that's how many babies are born prematurely every year. That number is staggering considering all the medical advances these days. That's 500,000 babies that didn't get enough time to develop and grow before birth.

Some will grow up to have no side effects or indications that they were preemies, but many will have lasting scars. Many premature babies will have physical limitations, developmental delays, and even learning problems once they reach school age. Premature babies are more susceptible to illness. Maybe not getting the illness itself, but to complications from getting sick. I have written more than once about Maddie, a little girl in CA, that even though she was healthy, she developed complications from a cold and died. Prematurity was listed as one of the causes of death on her death certificate.

Prematurity is a problem that can follow a baby all the way through school and into adulthood. March of Dimes is currently doing a campaign to end prematurity. We organize a team to walk in the March for Babies each spring to help raise money for MOD. Please visit their site to see how you can help.

500,000...half a million...Julianna was one of those 500,000 in 2008 and I am fighting to make sure Baby Boy K doesn't become one of them in 2010.