Helping Premature Babies in Idaho

I was born premature, weighing in at 2lbs. 2 oz. Here in Idaho over 8 percent of babies are born too early. Here's how you can help.

Easter weekend always takes me back to the story of my birth. I was born on Easter, April 19, 1981. My mother had been battling toxemia, otherwise known as preeclampsia for weeks. As a result, I was born 11 weeks early. I was completely blue and not breathing when I was born and I spent the next 10 weeks in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit. Doctors gave me a 20% chance of living. I have always credited that rough start to my feistiness in life. I'm a very small woman, but I've always put up a big fight! My parents like to talk about how I was hooked up to all these wires and I would fight with everything I had to scoot down to the bottom of my incubator away from the tubes and wires! I have always been so grateful to the doctors who saved my life and my Mother's.

Premature birth can happen to anyone during any pregnancy for a variety of reasons. 30 years after my birth, my sister gave birth to premature twins. My nephew Sam weighed in at only 1lb. 14 oz. Today both twins are almost 5 and thriving without any long lasting complications. Here's Sam when he was born. Like me, he fit right inside his Father's hand!

Here in Idaho 8.1% of births happen prematurely or before 37 weeks gestation. That translates to 2,463 premature births in the state every year.The good news is we score an "A" on the Premature Birth Report Card. We are only 1 of 4 states to receive this top score which means we do a really good job at preventing premature births, but those Mommies and babies who are fighting this battle in the Treasure Valley could still use your help! Check out our local March of Dimes chapter to see how you can help this wonderful cause.

Every baby deserves the very best chance at life. This year and every Easter I'm so glad I was able to beat the odds and have the chance to live. Happy Easter everyone!