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In This Issue:
The Stern family: Abby, Jeremy, Jared and Derek.
In a discouraging trend, the number of premature births each year rose steadily for nearly 15 years. But thanks to added focus and research, the last three years have shown promise, with the total number of premature births dropping by 4 percent.
“This decline is notable, and I truly believe that it is due, in part, to the work of the March of Dimes,” said Paul Hughes, administrative director of the Division of Newborn Medicine. “But we still have more to do.”
The NICU Strollers are once again stepping up to participate in next week’s March of Dimes’ March for Babies to raise funds for research to prevent birth defects, prematurity and infant mortality and to raise public awareness of these serious issues.
Now in their fifth year participating in the three-mile walk along the Esplanade, the NICU Strollers’ goal is to raise $25,000. They already have raised $21,000, and registered more than 85 graduate familes and staff to walk.
The NICU Strollers will not be the only ones representing BWH. Former patient Abby Stern and her family are this year’s Boston 2011 March for Babies Ambassador Family.
In 2003, Stern delivered twin boys Zachary and Jared prematurely. Zachary did not survive, but Jared continued to fight. He spent 180 days in the NICU before he was able to go home. This year, Jared is completing first grade, and his family is supporting the walk and recognizing the care they received at BWH.
“Thank you is not enough,” Stern said. “Jared is a true miracle, and without the March of Dimes research and the staff at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, he would not be with us today.”
The March of Dimes’ March for Babies is May 7 at 12:30 p.m.