Fight for Preemies!

You all know the story of Greyson's premature birth and subsequent NICU stay. It was scary and overwhelming, but after 52 days I took my son home and he is amazing, happy and healthy - if prone to waking up at least 4 times a night :)

But not all babies and moms are so lucky.

Every year, 20 million babies are born too soon, too small and very sick ― half a million of them in the United States. Premature birth is a health crisis that jeopardizes the lives and health of nearly half-million babies each year. It is the #1 killer of newborns and can lead to lifelong disabilities. Worse: the number has increased 31 percent since 1981 - the year I was born. It can happen without warning and for no known reason. Until we have more answers, anyone’s baby, could be born too soon.

Medical advances give even the tiniest babies a chance of survival, yet for many babies premature birth is still a life or death condition. It’s the #1 cause of death during the first month of life. And babies who survive face serious health challenges and risk lifelong disabilities.

The rate of premature birth has never been higher. In half the cases, we simply don’t understand what went wrong. We need to fight for answers. And, ultimately, preventions.

November 17 is dedicated to raising awareness of the crisis of premature birth. The March of Dimes invites bloggers like you to get involved, so if you are a blogger like me, please post about our Fight for Preemies and National Prematurity Awareness Month.

Learn about premature birth at marchofdimes.com/fightforpreemies

Greyson and all the equipment that kept him going in the NICU.

If freaks me out to see his chest caved in like that and to remember how hard it was for him to breath. He was just a day old when this was taken and on the CPAP for the first time. Later that day he had to go back on the ventilator because his breathing was so labored.

My sweet little miracle.