Saving Babies, One Step at a Time

I realized I asked for your support for my March of Dimes team for my giveaway but I haven't explained why I am so passionate about the cause.  Sorry this post isn't running related.

In 1988, my little brother Nathan was born.  He was a cute little red head with a temper to match.  Not long after he was born my parents noticed he was having seizures and having a difficult time breathing and eating.  After several tests, he was diagnosed with holoprosencephaly, a rare birth defect where the frontal lobe of the brain is not fully developed.  He was unable to breathe through his nose and had to have an airway placed in his mouth to keep is tongue down to allow him to breathe.  He also had to be fed with a feeding tube, because he was unable to breathe, suck, and swallow at the same time.  My parents were taught how to administer his medications and give him tube feedings which allowed us to bring him home.  I was only 5 years old but I still remember going to the NICU to see him, dressing him in a Santa outfit at Christmas, giving him a Valentine's Day card, and letting him taste chocolate at Easter.  I was such a proud big sister.  Sadly, Nathan was only with us for 5 months, but of course he touched our lives forever.

Me and Nathan
(This is the only digital picture I have of him right now, I'll try to post more.)

As I was finishing Respiratory Therapy school and trying to decide where I wanted to work, I had a clinical day in an NICU and knew instantly that is where I was meant to work.  I have enjoyed helping premature and other sick babies breathe in the NICU for almost 5 years. 

From Google images

The first March of Dimes walk I participated in was in 1993.  This year is the first time I am building a team of walkers and supporters.  I'm very excited to be a part of March for Babies and hope you will join my team. Every day, thousands of babies are born too soon, too small and often very sick. The money we raise will support March of Dimes research and programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and babies begin healthy lives. And it will be used to bring comfort and information to families with a baby in newborn intensive care.

Please join my team. You can do so on my team Web page. If you can't walk with me, please help the team reach our goal by making a donation. You can do that online as well.
Thank you for helping me give all babies a healthy start!

Check out my giveaway here. 
“Fear less, hope more; Eat less, chew more; Whine less, breathe more; Talk less, say more; Love more, and all good things will be yours”

My mama's Nathan tattoo, my Breathe tattoo.