Joyce L. Miller
joyce.miller@lakesunonline.com
Two lake area families, two very different stories and experiences with one thing in common: The March of Dimes has been there to lend a helping hand when they needed it most.
The Thomason family has an adorable son who is now a toddler. He was born very prematurely, but defied the odds and is now a healthy little boy.
The Calvino family just left the hospital with their son in July. He is not out of the woods yet.
They are still living with some complications from their son’s premature birth, including a hole in his heart and problems with his thyroid. It’s still unclear if he will face any developmental delays or problems.
“My son, Reese spent two months in the NICU at Columbia Hospital. We drove to Columbia every other day to see him. At one time the NICU had 32 premature or sick newborns. We watched parents enter the door for the first time to see their baby and we felt their fear and pain all over again,” Ashley Calvino said. “As a parent you want the best for your child and watching them grow in an incubator, with strangers giving them food and comfort is not what parents expect. That is why we want to help with the March of Dimes; we want to help raise money for continued research from premature births.”
The March of Dimes has given the Thomasons hope that their son will run and play, just like other kids.
“When my husband and I found out that our baby might not survive, we were scared and shocked that this had happened to us. The worst thing about the end of my pregnancy was not knowing if our baby was going to live, if he was going to have a mental illness, or a physical problem,” Linda Thomason said.
“Chase was born 12 weeks early, yet we were fortunate enough to get the surfactant shots for his lungs. The doctors had warned what all could go wrong, but being only four days old, on Christmas Eve he took himself off the ventilator and has been breathing strongly ever since. Thanks to March of Dimes, my son can run in the yard and be a normal healthy little boy.”
Since the 1950s, the March of Dimes has been leading the fight against birth defects and premature birth. The organization funds research and advocacy services for those born too small, too soon.
Every week in the Lake area, a baby is born prematurely. Each year, 48 babies born in Camden/Miller counties will have a birth defect and 12 babies die each year in the two counties. The March of Dimes is working to reduce those numbers and ensure that all babies born in the United States have a fighting chance at life.
Number to know
48 The number of babies born in Camden/Miller counties each year that will have a birth defect.
Did You Know?
Signature Chefs Auction raised $70,000 and attracted more than 500 enthusiastic guests in 2008.
11th Annual Signature Chefs Auction
THE EVENT Signature Chefs Auction is a dinner auction that pays tribute to the culinary excellence of local chefs, restaurants and caterers, while raising money to give babies a healthy start in life. In its tenth year, the Signature Chefs Auction brings together top chefs from various dining establishments who donate their time and talents to prepare a gourmet sampling of unique specialties. A silent auction is held during the sampling. The gourmet sampling is followed by a live auction, which includes signature dining and entertainment packages.
WHEN Wednesday, November 11, 2009
WHERE The Lodge of Four Seasons, Granada Ballroom, Lake Ozark
TIME 6 p.m. Culinary Reception and Silent Auction, 8 p.m. Live Auction
TICKETS $65 per person, $650 Patron Table of 10
WHY This is a highly celebrated fund-raising event that raised $70,000 and attracted more than 500 enthusiastic guests in 2008. The Signature Chefs Auction provides valuable funds for the March of Dimes’ fight against premature birth, birth defects and infant death by supporting research, advocacy, community services, programs and education. One in eight babies is born prematurely in mid-Missouri and it is the number one cause of death in a baby’s first month of life. In fact, 12 babies die each week in Missouri. The March of Dimes is leading the fight to save babies.
CONTACT Stephanie Johnson, Director, Central Missouri March of Dimes , 573-635-5350
