A cause dear to us

As many of you know (if not all of you, I don't know that our blog is that internationally read), Myla was born 12 weeks early. She weighed 1 pound, 5.8 ounces and was just over a foot long. She came so early because I developed HELLP syndrome - a nasty version of pre-eclampsia. I don't know how sick I really was, but ask my mom someday, she said it was pretty scary.

Because Myla came so early, her lungs did not get a chance to develop fully. We were able to wait two days for steroid shots to help her, but it wasn't a cure all. When babies are in utero (like that? that's science-speak) around 26 weeks, they start producing surfactant, which helps the lungs to open. The surfactant helps them stay open upon exhale, and babies "gulp" the fluid in the sack so when they are born, thier lungs are ready. Myla didn't get that chance. I remember looking at the x-rays they took of her lungs and seeing large dark areas where her lungs weren't open yet. She had three treatments of surfactant to open them up.

I tell you this because it was the March of Dimes research that pinpointed surfactant as necessary for babies that were born so early. November 17th is "Fight for Preemies" day. Obviously, we are BIG fans of March of Dimes. Because of their research, our daughter was given an extra push and able to grow and become the strong and feisty and amazing little one she is. Please join us in fighting for all preemies by clicking on the purple badge to your right. It will take you to the March of Dimes website where we have created a band in honor of Myla. I know it is hard these days for a lot of us, and the holidays are coming up, and things are tight in the middle of the month (at least, they always are for us) but we ask, if you are able, to please join us in giving all babies the chance they deserve. Any donation you could give would help. Thank you!