Every baby deserves a healthy start in life. It seems so simple but I never gave it much thought until my life took a crazy turn in October 2009 and God gave me Bohdy 2 1/2 months before it was time. My baby boy weighed 2 pounds 6 ounces. His little foot was half the size of my thumb and his head no bigger than a tennis ball. Every inch of his body was covered by a tube or wire or IV that helped him do what was needed to survive.
I've never felt more vulnerable as I did during Bohdy's first couple days when we were told to cherish every hour we have him because there's no guarantee we will have more than that. I stayed positive and put on a brave face for family and friends but inside I was terrified I would have to say good-bye to my son before I even got to know him. I wanted so bad to reach in his isolette and rub his arm or his head to let him know I was there, but preemies' nerve endings aren't fully developed yet so my attempt to comfort him would only cause him pain. All I could do was hope and pray that medical advancements and the amazing team of neonatal doctors and nurses caring for him would be enough to save our son. We knew we faced a mountain of potenetial challenges ahead -- many premature babies face lifelong health problems, including learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, blindness, hearing loss and other chronic conditions that we were made aware of early in Bohdy's journey. But all that mattered was that Bohdy was here.
Hours turned into days and days into weeks and little Bohdy showed an innate strength and will to survive that seemed impossible for his size. He endured countless pricks and pokes, heart scans, brain scans, x-rays, PT/OT assessments, eye doctor visits that I wasn't allowed to be at because they are too traumatic for a mom to see...the list was as long as Bohdy was little. He was fed through a tube in his nose for 6 weeks. He contracted an intestinal virus and his NICU space was quarantined and we started over on IV fluids. His weight gain was painfully slow...11 ounces in a month. But as slow as it was, it was progress and 8 1/2 weeks after his early arrival, Bohdy came home weighing 4 pounds 6 ounces.
Once home, we didn't leave the house much for several months as flu, RSV and H1N1 seasons were at their peak. I had a lot of time to read and research premature infant care. In doing so, one name came up over and over: the March of Dimes. This incredible organization was established by Franklin D. Roosevelt to fight polio, a disease that Roosevelt contracted and was never able to walk on his own again. The March of Dimes was founded in 1938 on the eve of WWII and originally called the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (NFIP). Its research and volunteer coordination effort eventually led to the development of the Salk vaccine in 1955 that swiftly wiped out the polio epidemic.
Such success led the March of Dimes to shift its focus over the years to the research and prevention of birth defects as well prematurity. I was just starting high school in 1990 when March of Dimes grantees helped develop surfactant therapy that 19 years later would give my son the chance he needed to survive. At birth Bohdy suffered from respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Babies with RDS struggle to breathe because their immature lungs do not produce enough surfactant, a protein that keeps small air sacs in the lungs from collapsing. Thanks to the advancement of surfactant therapy, deaths from RDS have been reduced by two-thirds. I truly believe Bohdy's life was initially saved minutes after birth thanks to this medical intervention made possible by the March of Dimes.
The March of Dimes also plays a large role in providing support and education for families whose babies require NICU care. Bohdy's 57 days in the NICU were lifechanging for our family, but ultimately his NICU stay was one of the most positive experiences of my life -- because our story has a happy ending and has led to us to support a greater cause. Today Bohdy is our wild child who loves animals, Buzz Lightyear, Angry Birds, playing with his big sister and jumping off anything taller than he is.
I recently came across a brochure given to us a few days after Bohdy was born on "social security benefits for our disabled child." I declined the benefits back then because I was so hopeful our child would not have a disability. Today 2 1/2-year-old Bohdy is little but mighty and very capable of doing everything expected of a toddler his age. I have no doubt his strong will coupled with his picture-perfect health will allow him to do anything and everything he wants in life. I'm so proud to be his mom and so indebted to and grateful for the March of Dimes for giving my miracle baby the chance he needed to survive and thrive.This April 28th our family will proudly lead the 2012 March for Babies as this year's Northern Colorado March of Dimes Ambassador Family. We are happy to share our story and show everyone what a capable and amazing boy Bohdy is today thanks to the decades of research funded by the March of Dimes. We invite our friends, family and anyone who wants join in our support of the March of Dimes to walk with us or make a donation to our team, Bohdy's Beauties. Any amount means so much and goes to a cause that has impacted us all in one way or another.
For more information on the March of Dimes, visit www.MarchofDimes.com. To walk on our team or make a donation, please use the links in the badge at the top of this page or visit www.MarchforBabies.org/BohdyB. Our heartfelt thanks in advance for every dime!!'
