Lejla Zeyadich

UPDATE - Upcoming Event Details for the 2025 Chicago March for Babies
Sunday, April 27th, 2025 
400 West Montrose Harbor Drive, Chicago, IL 60640
Suggested Arrival: 8-8:30AM
Stage Program: 8:45AM
Walk Kick Off: 9:00AM

Driving & Parking:
• FREE PARKING will be available steps away from the event along Montrose Avenue and along North Simonds Drive. If you type "Grove 16 - Montrose Harbor" into your map application it will take you to the parking area. 
Transit:
• If transit is convenient for you, Montrose Harbor is just a short walk away from the Wilson CTA Red/Purple Line stop. If you are taking the bus, the Montrose & Marine Drive (route 78) stop is walking distance away from the event site.
Drop-off/Taxi:
• If you take rideshare/taxi, you can be dropped off right at the site! Type “Montrose Harbor – Grove 16” into your rideshare app or the address: 400 West Montrose Harbor Drive, Chicago, IL 60640

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On August 2, 2022, my good friends Ian and Joslyn Reed welcomed their daughter, Coen James "Coco" Reed, into the world five weeks early. Their joy was short-lived when Joslyn experienced complications that quickly became life-threatening. She suffered an amniotic fluid embolism, a rare and severe birth complication that triggered a cascade of medical crises. Doctors fought tirelessly to save her, performing multiple surgeries as they worked to stop her bleeding. Despite every effort, Joslyn tragically passed away on August 6, 2022, at the age of 38, leaving behind her husband Ian, their newborn daughter Coco, and big sister, Zoey.

As Ian and his family grieved the unimaginable loss of Joslyn, Coco began her own fight for survival. Born prematurely, she spent 18 days in the NICU at Lurie Children’s Hospital where she required specialized interventions for a pneumothorax, including a chest tube and intubation for mechanical ventilation. From the moment she was born, she was surrounded by a team of doctors and nurses who ensured she had the best possible start despite arriving earlier than expected. 

Coco’s journey is a powerful reminder of how critical NICU care is for premature babies and why organizations like March of Dimes are vital in ensuring that every baby has a fighting chance. Now, Ian and his daughters, Coco and Zoey, are stepping forward as the 2025 Chicago March for Babies Ambassador Family. They are sharing their story to honor Joslyn’s legacy and to advocate for better maternal and infant health. Their journey is one of profound loss but also of resilience and hope—a reminder that every mother and baby deserves access to life-saving medical care and support. Through their advocacy, Ian and his daughters hope to raise awareness about the urgent need for improved maternal health care, ensuring that fewer families face the heartbreak they have endured and that more babies, like Coco, have the opportunity to thrive.

Join us :
2025 Chicago March for Babies - Sunday, April 27th, 2025 
400 West Montrose Harbor Drive, Chicago, IL 60640

Share the "Team Sunflower Squad" page to help us reach our donation goal!
https://marchforbabies.org/team/SunflowerSquad