November is Prematurity Awareness Month, and today, November 17th, bloggers are banding together to Fight For Preemies.  We are taking a moment today to spread the word about prematurity, bring a little awareness about the impact prematurity has on the babies born too soon, on the parents struggling as they watch their babies fight for their lives and on their families and friends who stand behind them in support and to spread the word about March of Dimes and the tremendous things they do to help premature babies and to help prevent prematurity so that “one day all babies may be born healthy”.

I was one of the lucky, my daughter was born full term and healthy and I am thankful every day for that fact because I know so many aren’t so lucky.  I know people who weren’t so lucky, those who had babies born too soon and too sick.

I have witnessed prematurity first hand when my baby brother was born 8 weeks early.  My mother had to have an emergency c-section when complications developed in her pregnancy and she went into premature labor.  After only a brief glimpse of her tiny new baby boy she watched as they whisked him away to be airlifted to a hospital with a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that was adequate to meet his needs, over 2 hours away.  Luckily my brother only had to spend a week in that NICU before being transported back to our local hospital and their lesser equipped NICU.  I remember being so scared for my mom and for my little brother.  I remember how tiny he was, and how fragile he seemed.  I remember what it was like when he finally came home a few weeks later and wondering if his fight was over or if he would continue to struggle.  I remember my mom being so upset that she couldn’t breastfeed him because it wasn’t encourage with preemies back then.  I remember crying, a lot.  My brother is now 18 years old and you would never know he was born premature to look at him.  But I know it and now that I am older and know so much more about prematurity and what can happen I know how lucky we are to have him with us, how lucky we are that we didn’t learn the very worst about prematurity back then.  So, for him I fight for preemies, I march for babies, and I do what I can to spread the word.

I have seen so many people touched by prematurity both in my real life and through the blogging community.  I have seen those whose children fought and won and those whose children fought but sadly lost their fight. A former co-worker of mine delivered her daughter 12 weeks early.  She fought in the NICU for almost 3 months before finally being able to come home.  Today she is a happy, healthy 4 year old and her parents are so grateful for each moment they have with her because they know how close they came to having her here. Through the wonderful world of blogging I encountered and became friends with Heather Spohr.  I started reading Heather’s blog a little less than 2 years ago.  Through her stories about her life with Maddie, born 11 weeks early, I learned so much about prematurity and the long term effects it can have on a child and on the family.  As many of you probably know, Maddie Spohr, passed away unexpectedly on April 7th, she was just 17 months old.  Maddie was my inspiration for walking in my first ever March for Babies earlier this year and will continue to be my inspiration as I walk in future marches.  I just wish she was inspiring me from earth instead of from heaven.

What happened to Maddie and the Spohrs should never have to happen to any family.  Preemies (and their families) need our help.  They need us to fight for them so they don’t have to.  Visit the March of Dimes website to see what you can do to help Fight for Preemies.  Help them reach their goal of a future where every baby is born healthy and no baby has to fight for their life.