March for Babies 2010

 
 
 
 

This was our 2nd year to walk in the March for Babies walk. This is always such a humbling experience for me. I am so happy to participate, don't get me wrong. However, I feel as if I am almost not worthy of being there, not worthy of earning the title of "preemie family". You see, at the walk we talk with hundreds of other families, most who endured far greater sadness, chaos, & in some situations loss, much worse than we lived through. I almost hang my head when I say we "only" spent 43 days in the NICU. We were born "only" 9 weeks early. My baby survived. My baby was a whopping 3 lb 14 oz. You see, in the NICU world, he was HUGE! He didn't have massive issues after birth, no transfusions, no surgeries on his heart, bowels, eyes. He was "only" on the vent for a little less than 72 hours. He came home w/o monitors. I was able to hold him early compared to so many, 36 hours after he was born. There are so, so many others who can't say any of this. There was a team walking that used the term "in memory of" that reminds me just how lucky we are to have our 3 healthy kids walking with us. Other families spoke of waiting for nearly 6 months before they got to bring their little on home. There are kiddos in wheelchairs, where there precious munchkin will never know what it is like to "walk" in the March for Babies, but they are here with us today. There were families who told me of how they watched their little 1 pound miracle micro preemies struggle through so much. The kids their who have endured open heart surgeries when their little bodies aren't even as long as a ruler, don't even weigh 2 pounds. There were children with permanent eye damage due to their prematurity, hearing loss, feeding tubes, CP, life-long medical concerns that they will live with EACH & EVERY DAY for the rest of their lives, all because they came so early.

So, when I spoke to people and told them that Zachary is relatively healthy, it almost felt wrong. But, we did live thru that. It was a hard fought 43 days, and has been a hard fought nearly 17 months with our own struggles. No, they may not have been as serious, but when it happens to you, and your baby, it seems pretty serious.

I love the March for Babies. I forces me to stop, and really take a moment to sing songs of praise at the health of all 3 of my sweet gifts. Everyone there is so positive and never dwells on what they don't have, but they all focus on the positive. I want that for me, and for our family. I want to appreciate all the gifts we have been given--most especially the gifts of Emerald, Calvin, & Zachary!