Why I do what I do... my first Miracle Spotlight: Green Sprouts

I have decided to try out a new thing this year, and take a break from all the fundraising by sharing stories about why I am so passionate about what I do with the March of Dimes.

You all know MY story, challenges, and achievements. I want to share even more because what I experienced only just scratches the surface of the world of prematurity, infant loss, and birth defects. What better way to inspire you to help this cause than to remind you what is behind it all?

My very first Miracle Spotlight goes to the Green family. Amanda is part of my online multiples group, which consists of 200+ mamas of multiples (yes that is 400+ children, not even including their kids besides multiples) from all over the world. We started as a group on BabyCenter that was "mothers expecting twins in August 2011". To get where we are at now we have expanded the ages and order of multiples to include newborns up to almost 3 years of age, and we also have several triplet mamas as well. We are a big, happy family always there to support one another. You can always count on someone here to relate to what you are going through and offer a shoulder to cry on. I am very blessed to have them!

Amanda came to us pregnant with twin girls and seeking advice from the rest of us been-there-done-that mamas. On January 16th, 2013, at 30 weeks gestation, little Ryleigh and Adalynn made their grand entrance into the world. Their journey has just begun but it is already an inspiring one, full of beauty and hope, as they are both such strong girls already.

You can follow their amazing adventure at https://www.facebook.com/GreenSproutsJourney

Adalynn

Ryleigh

Amanda and her husband Ryan are currently going through the challenge of being NICU parents, and all while juggling their life with two older sons at home. My heart goes out to them as NICU "Alumni". Although those days are a blur to me now, the pain resonates just as strongly; it is unforgettable. Support for families like Amanda's is so important because it is very easy to feel alone and unsure. There is a lot of uncertain territory in a NICU, no matter what your situation. Intense feelings of sadness, guilt, fear, jealousy, and even anger can run rampant. Every little achievement is noteworthy, every ounce, every feeding, every milestone!

Ryleigh and Adalynn are inspiring to me. I look at their faces and know more than ever why I am fighting for all babies everywhere. Why every single day in utero is soooo precious. Something that Amanda said the day before the girls were born really spoke to me: "We've been given lots of meds to help their lungs more and to try to stop and prolong labor for now...just hoping for a few more hours or days of baking!"

That was a preemie mama speaking... Just hoping for a few more hours. That is an appreciation of something in a small form that is sometimes easily overlooked - one of the defining things about being the mother of a preemie.

Much of the physical support that Ryleigh and Adalynn are receiving right now is thanks in part to the March of Dimes for funding research for this technology. Click here: http://www.marchofdimes.com/research/researchslideshow.html to read more about research breakthroughs.

When I raise money for the March of Dimes, it goes to this research. When you make a donation, it changes a life... somewhere. And from the very bottom of my heart, I thank my friends and family for the donations they have made, because if it were not for people who cared the way that you do, my journey with Cadence and Sierra could have been very different.

Keep in mind that 20 or so years ago, women with lupus were encouraged to not become pregnant. Those that did often lost a baby, or several. Look at me now :) To the health of mamas and babies EVERYWHERE!