Craig, Gillian and I were in the North Countryman today. Check it out.
http://www.denpubs.com/Articles-c-2010-04-28-72447.114134-sub_Marching_for_babies.html
Showing posts with label March for Babies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label March for Babies. Show all posts
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Ambassador Family Speech
My husband and I are honored to stand here with our daughter. We speak to you today as the proud parents of a NICU graduate.
Nothing with my pregnancy with our daughter Gillian was easy or considered normal. I was diagnosed with pregnancy induced hypertension 19 days after finding out I was pregnant and taken out of work. I was put on medication and told to go home to relax. At 14 weeks I was advised that I was high risk for having a premature baby. My doctor didn’t really offer information on preemies; most baby books don’t have a very elaborate preemie section so I sought comfort with the March of Dimes website. Because of this site I knew the terms that doctors used, knew what questions to ask and was able to seek comfort in success stories. This website helped me feel that I still had some control over a situation that was completely out of my control.
The blood pressure medicine and my bed rest only went so far and just shy of the 25 week mark I developed preeclampsia. I was admitted to CVPH then transported to Fletcher Allen; the doctors didn’t feel that I was getting sick rapidly so I was released with the hopes that I would make it another month. I made it 4 days and was admitted again, this time being told that I was not leaving until after my daughter was born. At 26 weeks 3 days my kidneys were showing the signs of failing and I was told that my daughter had to be delivered. The doctors had warned us that although I had received the two steroid shots to help her lungs develop faster that she would not be able to cry when she was born. Gillian was born crying, her cry gave my husband and I the greatest hope to start the NICU journey.
Our excitement was short lived as we got use to life in the NICU. The first time I was able to meet my daughter was when she was two days old and I had to be wheeled into the NICU. Nothing prepares a parent to see their baby in a NICU. The noises from all the machines, the staff working diligently with all the babies, all the wires and being surrounded by so many babies fighting for their lives is beyond overwhelming. Even with everything going on, I saw the most beautiful baby in the world. It was heart breaking to not be able to hold her.
Gillian was born weighing 1lb 12 ozs and 14.5 inches long. During her first few days she received treatments founded by the March of Dimes – surfactant to help her lungs inflate and nitric oxide to help her blood absorb oxygen. She was intubated for the first 33 days of her life and received 7 blood transfusions during her hospital stay. When Gillian was 6 days old I was discharged from the hospital. Walking from the maternity floor to our car in the parking garage at Fletcher Allen was the longest walk I had ever taken. Gillian and I should have left together but my arms were empty and I struggled to hold the tears in. Her NICU stay was the roller coaster ride we had been advised to expect – infections, procedures and waiting. After 93 days of waiting and hoping, Gillian came home. It was one of the happiest days of our lives.
Our journey with prematurity did not end when we walked out of the NICU that day which is what we had first expected. The first 3 years of Gillian’s life was spent meeting with doctors, speech therapists and physical therapists to make sure that Gillian caught up with her age group. We celebrated the successes and with every set back we hoped for a success in the near future to get us through.
Today, we can proudly stand here and tell you that Gillian has beaten the odds. She is a healthy, strong 4 year old girl that when compared to other children her age does not show any signs of her premature past. It is through the work that the March of Dimes does that gave our daughter this possibility.
We hope that you will continue to support the March of Dimes so that one day all babies are born healthy.
Nothing with my pregnancy with our daughter Gillian was easy or considered normal. I was diagnosed with pregnancy induced hypertension 19 days after finding out I was pregnant and taken out of work. I was put on medication and told to go home to relax. At 14 weeks I was advised that I was high risk for having a premature baby. My doctor didn’t really offer information on preemies; most baby books don’t have a very elaborate preemie section so I sought comfort with the March of Dimes website. Because of this site I knew the terms that doctors used, knew what questions to ask and was able to seek comfort in success stories. This website helped me feel that I still had some control over a situation that was completely out of my control.
The blood pressure medicine and my bed rest only went so far and just shy of the 25 week mark I developed preeclampsia. I was admitted to CVPH then transported to Fletcher Allen; the doctors didn’t feel that I was getting sick rapidly so I was released with the hopes that I would make it another month. I made it 4 days and was admitted again, this time being told that I was not leaving until after my daughter was born. At 26 weeks 3 days my kidneys were showing the signs of failing and I was told that my daughter had to be delivered. The doctors had warned us that although I had received the two steroid shots to help her lungs develop faster that she would not be able to cry when she was born. Gillian was born crying, her cry gave my husband and I the greatest hope to start the NICU journey.
Our excitement was short lived as we got use to life in the NICU. The first time I was able to meet my daughter was when she was two days old and I had to be wheeled into the NICU. Nothing prepares a parent to see their baby in a NICU. The noises from all the machines, the staff working diligently with all the babies, all the wires and being surrounded by so many babies fighting for their lives is beyond overwhelming. Even with everything going on, I saw the most beautiful baby in the world. It was heart breaking to not be able to hold her.
Gillian was born weighing 1lb 12 ozs and 14.5 inches long. During her first few days she received treatments founded by the March of Dimes – surfactant to help her lungs inflate and nitric oxide to help her blood absorb oxygen. She was intubated for the first 33 days of her life and received 7 blood transfusions during her hospital stay. When Gillian was 6 days old I was discharged from the hospital. Walking from the maternity floor to our car in the parking garage at Fletcher Allen was the longest walk I had ever taken. Gillian and I should have left together but my arms were empty and I struggled to hold the tears in. Her NICU stay was the roller coaster ride we had been advised to expect – infections, procedures and waiting. After 93 days of waiting and hoping, Gillian came home. It was one of the happiest days of our lives.
Our journey with prematurity did not end when we walked out of the NICU that day which is what we had first expected. The first 3 years of Gillian’s life was spent meeting with doctors, speech therapists and physical therapists to make sure that Gillian caught up with her age group. We celebrated the successes and with every set back we hoped for a success in the near future to get us through.
Today, we can proudly stand here and tell you that Gillian has beaten the odds. She is a healthy, strong 4 year old girl that when compared to other children her age does not show any signs of her premature past. It is through the work that the March of Dimes does that gave our daughter this possibility.
We hope that you will continue to support the March of Dimes so that one day all babies are born healthy.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Fundraiser
Anyone reading my blog saw last month that I had the lucky lotto number listed each day. That was for a fundraiser for the March for Babies that Team Gillian was doing for the upcoming walk in April. The team was able to sell 314 tickets which was good (had me a little nervous because 320 broke even) but the chances of a winner everyday weren't that great so my fingers were crossed that this worked in Team Gillian's favor. It did and we were able to raise $1,170 for the walk. Woohoo! This is the first year that it is February and I'm calm. Normally right up until all the money is handed in I'm stressing about how much we have raised. I never think enough is enough but this year my views are different.
I was recently told that by taking my daughters birth that had horrible circumstances around it and although she ended up okay by forming Team Gillian and giving back to the organization that helped us is taking a bad thing and making it good. I see that now. I felt that I owed the the March of Dimes for all their research that saved my daughters life. When you owe someone something, you put an extremely high expectation on paying them back. If you don't then you should. I don't owe them but I do realize they need my help. By spreading Gillian's story, I help them. I bring awareness to the research they have done and a complete success story that I'm lucky to witness everyday. I wish that all preemie parents had a story similar to ours and hopefully one day because of the March of Dimes that will be the case. But it will take Gillian's story and all the other stories out there to get there.
I was recently told that by taking my daughters birth that had horrible circumstances around it and although she ended up okay by forming Team Gillian and giving back to the organization that helped us is taking a bad thing and making it good. I see that now. I felt that I owed the the March of Dimes for all their research that saved my daughters life. When you owe someone something, you put an extremely high expectation on paying them back. If you don't then you should. I don't owe them but I do realize they need my help. By spreading Gillian's story, I help them. I bring awareness to the research they have done and a complete success story that I'm lucky to witness everyday. I wish that all preemie parents had a story similar to ours and hopefully one day because of the March of Dimes that will be the case. But it will take Gillian's story and all the other stories out there to get there.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Team Gillian's Teams
Gillian was born in March which is prime March of Dimes time as their walks are held in April and May. Prior to Gillian being born I didn't really know anything about the March of Dimes...I had heard of it and donated money to them but never really looked at what they do or why they do it. I learned a lot while I was pregnant. Their site is where I found out the pregnancy I had only happens to 10% of pregnancies (how did I end up in that 10%?) Their site is where I went to to get information after Gillian was born, it is also where I went to find stories when I needed a pick me up and needed to know that everything would work out...The research that they do does change lives...it has changed my family's life. It gave us a child that had better chance of survival because of the work and research they have done.
So I did not walk in April 2006...it was just too overwhelming. So in 2007 I formed Team Gillian in honor of Gillian and to share Gillian's story and hoped to raise some money for the cause. The first year consisted of me, my parents, Craig's parents and Craig's sister...and of course baby Gillian. My hope was to raise $500 for the whole team....we did $1840 that year.
In 2008, we took it a step further and recruited a school club to help, more people came out, people that didn't have the money the year before donated that year. That year consisted of....me, Craig, my parents, Craig's parents, Craig's sister, my friend E, my friend D and her Mom, toddler Gillian and my neice E. Not pictured was the school club. My goal for the team was to raise what we had raised the year before...we did $3160.
In 2009, we took again a step further and added some new members. The team consisted of, me, Craig, my parents, Craig's parents, Craig's sister, Craig's sister's friend L, my friend D, my friend T and her daughter E, Craig's Mom's friend S and her son J and still toddler Gillian. My goal for the team was to raise what had been raised in 2007 due to an economic nightmare going on...we raised $3163.45.
So I did not walk in April 2006...it was just too overwhelming. So in 2007 I formed Team Gillian in honor of Gillian and to share Gillian's story and hoped to raise some money for the cause. The first year consisted of me, my parents, Craig's parents and Craig's sister...and of course baby Gillian. My hope was to raise $500 for the whole team....we did $1840 that year.
In 2008, we took it a step further and recruited a school club to help, more people came out, people that didn't have the money the year before donated that year. That year consisted of....me, Craig, my parents, Craig's parents, Craig's sister, my friend E, my friend D and her Mom, toddler Gillian and my neice E. Not pictured was the school club. My goal for the team was to raise what we had raised the year before...we did $3160.
In 2009, we took again a step further and added some new members. The team consisted of, me, Craig, my parents, Craig's parents, Craig's sister, Craig's sister's friend L, my friend D, my friend T and her daughter E, Craig's Mom's friend S and her son J and still toddler Gillian. My goal for the team was to raise what had been raised in 2007 due to an economic nightmare going on...we raised $3163.45.
I have already started fundraising for 2010 and have another amazing team forming. Currently we have...me, Craig, my parents, Craig's parents, Craig's sister, my older brother T and her wife E, my younger brother S and his GF A, my friend D and her husband B, Craig's brother-in-law, my friend L, my friend T, her daughter E and her parents and we aren't even into 2010 yet:) I am so thankful for the people that have been here through the years. So thankful that for the people that donate. Team Gillian wouldn't be a team without everyone who can't forget what we have been through for our little girl.
My goal again this year is to raise $1840...people probably will wonder why I would aim for an amount less than the last 2 years. My reasoning is first the economy is still terrible and second this amount would bring us above the $10,000 mark for what Team Gillian has raised since being started. It means a lot to me to get to that mark.
2010 is a big year for Team Gillian. We are sharing our story this year with all the walkers. As terrified as I am of speaking publically I feel that it is going to be an incredible experience. My daughter is the center of my world and sharing her amazing journey I think will help. She is proof that the March of Dimes/March for Babies is doing incredibile work.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Imagine
November 17 is dedicated to raising awareness of the crisis of premature birth. Here is my blog today in honor of being a preemie Mom....
Imagine being taken out of work 19 days after finding out you are pregnant because the doctors can't get your blood pressure under control.
Imagine finishing your first trimester and being told by your doctor that you will have a preemie just not sure how early.
Imagine finding out the sex of your baby and being thankful because you have read statistically preemie girls develop faster than boys.
Imagine being told by your doctor that getting to 34 weeks is great, 32 weeks is good, 30 weeks is okay and anything before you need to pray.
Imagine being told that your baby has an 85% of survival.
Imagine being told your baby won't cry when born.
Imagine hearing that baby cry and believing everything you have been told was wrong.
Imagine being scared to ask to hold your baby because mentally you can't handle the possibility of a no so you wait patiently 7 days for a nurse to offer the opportunity.
Imagine watching a machine help your baby survive everyday for 33 days because she can't breathe on her own.
Imagine every time your phone rang, your heart drops and you get choked up because it could be life or death.
Imagine having a baby but going home without one.
Imagine having to go back to work before your baby even gets out of the hospital.
Imagine having to plea with your baby that if she can hold on you will make all her dreams come true.
Imagine wanting to show off your proudest accomplishment and not being able to because her immune system could not handle it.
Imagine waiting till you reached your car for the tears to fall because your baby needs you to keep it together for them.
Imagine thinking that life will be normal once your baby is home to find out this was just the beginning of the journey.
Imagine having a micro preemie.
Can you imagine?
Imagine being taken out of work 19 days after finding out you are pregnant because the doctors can't get your blood pressure under control.
Imagine finishing your first trimester and being told by your doctor that you will have a preemie just not sure how early.
Imagine finding out the sex of your baby and being thankful because you have read statistically preemie girls develop faster than boys.
Imagine being told by your doctor that getting to 34 weeks is great, 32 weeks is good, 30 weeks is okay and anything before you need to pray.
Imagine being told that your baby has an 85% of survival.
Imagine being told your baby won't cry when born.
Imagine hearing that baby cry and believing everything you have been told was wrong.
Imagine being scared to ask to hold your baby because mentally you can't handle the possibility of a no so you wait patiently 7 days for a nurse to offer the opportunity.
Imagine watching a machine help your baby survive everyday for 33 days because she can't breathe on her own.
Imagine every time your phone rang, your heart drops and you get choked up because it could be life or death.
Imagine having a baby but going home without one.
Imagine having to go back to work before your baby even gets out of the hospital.
Imagine having to plea with your baby that if she can hold on you will make all her dreams come true.
Imagine wanting to show off your proudest accomplishment and not being able to because her immune system could not handle it.
Imagine waiting till you reached your car for the tears to fall because your baby needs you to keep it together for them.
Imagine thinking that life will be normal once your baby is home to find out this was just the beginning of the journey.
Imagine having a micro preemie.
Can you imagine?
Sunday, November 15, 2009
March for Babies
We have started our fundraising for the March of Dimes March for Babies. I normally wait until January 1st but then I’m going out of my mind from January until the last weekend in April. So this year I decided to fundraise November and December so that I can focus on the speech (I’m the local ambassador Mom) and enjoy the walk. I stress myself out. Craig tells me I shouldn’t be stressed about it because I’m doing everything possible but of course I have high expectations for myself. How much money is enough money to thank an organization for saving your child? I truly don’t believe she would be here without the care she received as a result of the research of the March of Dimes. I’m trying to be relaxed but who am I kidding…lol. This year we are doing a lottery. I figured this would be fun for everyone and raise a decent amount of money for the cause…my fingers are crossed that this works.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
March for Babies 2010
So on August 12th I met with the local March of Dimes committee regarding the 2010 March for Babies walk. I was extremely nervous about going and didn’t know what to expect or how many people would be there. I already knew 2 committee members – 1 through friends and was the Ambassador Mom for 2007 and 1 I met while his twins were in the NICU with Gillian and he was the Ambassador Father 2008. It is different to be around other parents that know my pain. Every child’s story is different but in some ways they over lap and pretty much all of us have been through some form of hell. So we met for almost 2 hours and threw out ideas and names to start getting the ball rolling and at least once a week I think about the upcoming walk and the fact that I need to start preparing for it but I also think about the speech I will write and give to the 400-500 people that will attend the event. Yes, I will be speaking. Sometimes I wonder why I’m torturing myself by giving a speech because I know I will be a stressed out about it but I have some pretty good reasons:
1 – It’s an amazing cause. Without the March of Dimes Gillian would probably not be here.
2 – I think Gillian’s story is truly inspirational. To be delivered at 26 weeks gestation and 3 years later have no developmental delays or a handicap is phenomenal.
3 – I feel that if Gillian survived all her hardships, I can survive the speech to help others.
I had applied last April to be the Ambassador Mom for 2010 and because I’m crazy about numbers I feel like it is the perfect year to do it. I found out in May that I had been picked after I shared Gillian’s story with the March of Dimes but until it was announced at the committee meeting I feel like it just wasn’t concrete. January through the end of April are the hardest months of the year for me. That is when I was sick and Gillian was born and Gillian was on a vent until the end of April. Although it will be 4 years I have a thing for dates and as I pass each date I remember 4 years before what was going on. The focus that I put on the walk gets me through these months. So I am determined to have a fabulous 4 months in the start of 2010 and I will proudly stand before a crowd of people probably in the freezing cold and share Gillian’s story. I hope to see everyone there!
1 – It’s an amazing cause. Without the March of Dimes Gillian would probably not be here.
2 – I think Gillian’s story is truly inspirational. To be delivered at 26 weeks gestation and 3 years later have no developmental delays or a handicap is phenomenal.
3 – I feel that if Gillian survived all her hardships, I can survive the speech to help others.
I had applied last April to be the Ambassador Mom for 2010 and because I’m crazy about numbers I feel like it is the perfect year to do it. I found out in May that I had been picked after I shared Gillian’s story with the March of Dimes but until it was announced at the committee meeting I feel like it just wasn’t concrete. January through the end of April are the hardest months of the year for me. That is when I was sick and Gillian was born and Gillian was on a vent until the end of April. Although it will be 4 years I have a thing for dates and as I pass each date I remember 4 years before what was going on. The focus that I put on the walk gets me through these months. So I am determined to have a fabulous 4 months in the start of 2010 and I will proudly stand before a crowd of people probably in the freezing cold and share Gillian’s story. I hope to see everyone there!
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