Hughes Family
Many of our Richmond moms and dads know what it is like to have a child born too early. Just like local business leaders who are working with the March of Dimes to prevent preterm birth to give more babies a healthy start in life, Richmondmom.com wants to help too.
Kirstin Hughes and her husband know first-hand what it’s like to have a baby born too soon. The fear, challenges, stress, and anxiety can be overwhelming at times. After wanting a baby for so long and finally learning she was pregnant, Kirstin was elated. But having a premature baby was something she never expected. Her tiny son underwent surgeries, procedures, and treatments necessary to save his tiny life. His biggest risk was extremely premature lungs – but thanks to a major breakthrough by the March of Dimes, doctors were able to effectively treat his lungs to get him through critical stages of development.
Kirstin and her husband are thankful for what the March of Dimes was able to do to help their baby survive against the odds. You can read her full story below.
March for Babies
March for Babies is the largest annual fundraising event for the March of Dimes, which will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2013. More than 4 million babies are born in the United States each year and the March of Dimes has helped each and every one of them through research, education, vaccines and breakthroughs.
Local companies and families participating will play an integral role in raising awareness and funds to advance the scientific research and educational programs at the core of the March of Dimes efforts to prevent preterm birth and birth defects. You can help by participating in the race or making a tax deductible donation.
Race Details
- The Richmond March for Babies is scheduled for Sunday, May 5th, 2013
- Fun begins at 8 a.m.
- Innsbrook’s Northshore Commons, 4951 Lake Brook Drive, Glen Allen VA 23060
- Children’s festival, 5k walk and entertainment throughout the morning
March for Babies gives everyone in the community the chance to work together for stronger, healthier babies and make a difference in the lives of millions of babies. Premature birth is the leading cause of newborn death. In Richmond, one in nine babies is born prematurely. Through March for Babies, leaders in our community are working together to ensure moms have healthy pregnancies and lowering healthcare costs.
Last year, the Richmond March for Babies raised $245,000. This year’s 2013 March for Babies total goal is $261,000.
Richmond area residents can sign up today and start a team with co-workers, family and friends. Last year, more than 1,500 people attended the event — which will be held this year on May 5th at Innsbrook’s Northshore Commons. A children’s festival, 5k walk and entertainment throughout the morning will make this a fun event for the whole family to attend.
The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
The 2013 March for Babies is sponsored nationally by the March of Dimes number one corporate supporter Kmart, Farmers Insurance Group, Macy’s, Cigna, Sanofi Pasteur, Famous Footwear, Actavis, Mission Pharmacal, and United Airlines. Locally this event is sponsored by Dominion, Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, Farmers Insurance and United Healthcare.
Kirstin’s Story
My name is Kirstin, my husband’s name is Leon and our miracle baby’s name is Daniel Christian Hughes. We are the 2013 Ambassador Family for the Richmond March for Babies. We are Team Daniel 6. Daniel’s due date was set for February 10, 2012, BUT he arrived on October 15, 2011. In other words, our son was born at 23 weeks and one day, weighing only 1 lb., and 2.4 oz. and measuring 11.5 inches long!
In 2011 on Father’s Day we found out that I was six weeks pregnant. After years of praying for a child, I was finally going to be a mother. However, right before my sixth month of pregnancy I was scheduled for a routine checkup. We appreciated the timing of this appointment, because earlier in the week I was not feeling well.
My symptoms quickly took a turn for the worse that Friday morning, so much so, that my water ended up breaking at home. Immediately, my husband called my doctor and ended up rushing me to his office, which he subsequently had me admitted to Henrico Doctors Hospital. The doctors requested several test trying to determine the state of my pregnancy.
I was told that Daniel had no fluid around him, and that either I was going to deliver this baby within 24-48 hours, or stay in the hospital until my due date. Incidentally, prior to this event all of my routine ultrasounds and blood work came back fine – no problems. I had no major complications during my pregnancy, or any reason for concern for having a premature baby; at this moment my husband and just I prayed.
As labor progressed through the evening we received a visit from the chief neonatologist who provided us with grim statistics on potential outcomes of babies born this prematurely. The doctor instructed us to make a decision on whether to sustain Daniel’s life after birth; our choice is obvious. We chose the biblical name Daniel as his name, because we were aware of the challenges he would face. The doctor placed Daniel on me for about 30 seconds after giving birth to him; from there he was immediately rushed to the NICU and placed on a ventilator. Our first opportunity to hold our child came three weeks after his birth.
In a short period time, we were propelled into the NICU world.
Even though Daniel spent the first five months of his life in the NICU, we were with our son every day. Daniel has had several procedures from having a simple hernia repair to heart surgery. We have watched him go through the typical preemie roller coaster ride. Daniel′s lungs were extremely premature, because he was born too soon. However, we were so fortunate to have had the surfactant — a major breakthrough for the March of Dimes, for Daniel′s lungs.
Daniel came home in March of 2012 on O2, an apnea and bradycardia machine, pulse ox, multiple meds, and six different Specialists. In addition to that Daniel′s final medical bill was just over three million dollars, another reason why we should support healthy babies through the March of Dimes.
Today, Daniel is doing well. He is off of everything, and he continues to meet his developmental milestones. We continue to use Early Intervention, and work closely with his specialist. He now weighs over 24 pounds. We find it a privilege to be an Ambassador Family for the March of Dimes.
Again, we are very excited to be a part of March for Babies this year and we hope you will join our team!
Every day, thousands of babies are born too soon, too small and often very sick. We are walking because we want to do something about it. When you participate in March for Babies, you are helping the March of Dimes raise money to fund research and programs to find the causes of prematurity and preventing babies from suffering these lifelong consequences! As a teacher, I often share with my students that people do not care about how much you know, until they know how much you care.
Please join our team – Team Daniel 6. Click here for website page and if you cannot walk with us; please help us reach our goal by making a tax deductible donation online. You may also make cash or check donations. Please make your checks out to the March of Dimes and write Team Daniel 6 in the memo. Finally, as Daniel leads the march this year we hope that our Grove family will consider being a part of our Ambassador Family Team.
The Richmond March for Babies is scheduled for Sunday, May 5th, 2013 at 8 a.m. at – Innsbrook’s Northshore Commons, 4951 Lake Brook Drive, Glen Allen VA 23060. We hope to see you there. Thank you!
