Share Your Story

31 years ago I arrived into this world prematurely due to an ABO blood incompatibility.   I received many blood transfusions, fought high jaundice levels, and a month and a half later I was finally able to go home.

I grew up knowing I wanted to be the mom to a house full of kids.  I would dream of the day I would fall in love, get married, and begin a family of my own. I never imagined how difficult it would be to achieve that dream.   My husband and I found out in Feb 2004 that we were expecting.  We were over the moon excited and couldn't wait to welcome our little boy to this world.   I had everything planned out, like most new moms due.   Except that my water would break prematurely and that our son Jadon would arrive 5 1/2 weeks premature, fighting to breath on his own.  Jadon was completely blue and would need the aid of a ventilator.  Jadon received surfactant therapy to help his immature lungs and was able to move off the vent, oxygen cannula, to room air and home within 8 days of his early arrival.  I believe that the surfactant is what saved him.  Jadon still struggles with respiratory issues 10 years later.

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In 2006, my husband and I got the unexpected blessing, Jadon was going to be a big brother.  At our 20 week ultrasound we were excited to find out if we would be adding a baby brother or a baby sister.  Instead we were given the news every parent fears.  There was something wrong with our child.  The next 5 weeks we saw specialist after specialist, doctor after doctor.  Doctors could not tell us what was wrong only that our daughter wasn't growing properly, and that her chances of surviving were very slim.  At 25 weeks my blood pressure spiked.  We arrived at the hospital, my kidneys were failing, and I was diagnosed with severe  preeclampsia. I was immediately put on magnesium to help keep me stable as I was sent to Orlando.  Our daughter Trinity Leigh arrived into this world 15 weeks too soon.  She weighed 11.4oz and was 10 inches long.   Our daughter gained her angel wings shortly after she was born.

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Finally six years later I was pregnant again. The fear and anxiety was overwhelming. I received 17p shots to help  me reach full term. Things we're going good till 32 weeks when the doctors realized I had 2 blood clotting disorders.  At 32 weeks our son Jaxson was born after going into distress.  He was born weighing 4lb 1oz and spent 16 days in the NICU, where he too received surfactant therapy.  

My boys story shows how far we have come, however my daughters story shows how far we still need to go.  As a mom I have never heard the beautiful sound of my baby crying at birth.   The birth of all three of my children were not the story book picture I had always dreamed of.  Thanks to the March of Dimes who not only aided in the creation of life saving surfactant therapy that my boys received, but also the 17p shot that I received.  They also created an online community called Share your Story (http://share.marchofdimes.org) for parents like me to connect with other parents who have been through similar experiences.  When your child is born premature it is beyond scary.  Saying goodbye to your child is unbearable.  Having the support of other families who understand is healing.   I am thankful for all the work of those who came before us.  It gave my boys a fighting chance.   So we walk.  TEAM TRINITY.   We walk for those who can not be here today, we walk along side those who fought to be here today, and for those who will one day fight.  http://www.marchforbabies.org/team/teamtrinity