Jake was born by emergency c-section 6 weeks early and spent his first 35 days in Hardin Memorial Hospital and Kosair Children′s Hospital in Louisville because of respiratory distress syndrome and surfactant deficiency. While in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Kosair Jake was on a ventilator and received 2 doses of surfactant therapy, he received a chest tube because of a collapsed lung, he had to receive 2 blood transfusions, and had more tubes and wires attached to his little head and body than you can imagine. Thankfully Jake's story had a happy ending…after over a month in the hospital Jake was welcomed home by me and my husband, James, and his big sister, Addison. We are extremely thankful for the family and friends here in Hardin County and all over the country that prayed for Jake, supported our family, and helped us all through the difficult times that surrounded Jake′s birth and hospital stay. We are especially thankful for the March of Dimes, specifically for their funding of the research on surfactant therapy…it wasn′t until the 1980′s that this research took place and it is what ultimately saved Jake′s life.

This year I′m walking for Jake, but I′m also walking for my daughter Addison who was born full term and healthy because the March of Dimes certainly has had a hand in helping all babies, healthy or not get their full nine months. And I′m walking for babies that were in the NICU with Jake, ones that came home way before him, those whose stay was much longer, and those who never came home. And this year I′m also walking for our new baby…baby #3 who is not due until this September, but will certainly be benefited by March of Dimes research as well.

I want to personally thank you for your support of the March of Dimes. I encourage you to continue helping to save babies each year through your participation in March for Babies. Jake is a happy and healthy almost 2 year old little boy thanks to you and to those who have supported the March of Dimes throughout the years.

~Amanda, James, Addison, and Jake Williams

The mission of March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.