March for Babies

MEET ROXY ROMEO

"In it for the long haul": How a veteran radio host is using her platform to champion maternal health

PHILADELPHIA, PA—When iHeartRadio host Roxy Romeo's water broke unexpectedly in December 2022 after a morning show, she had no idea how profoundly her life was about to change. After a week of bed rest at Temple Health and an emergency Cesarean section, her daughter Zara was born at just 26 weeks, weighing only 2 pounds, 6 ounces. The 93 days in the NICU were the scariest of Roxy and her husband's lives. Balancing work, caring for their two-year-old son Tristan, and staying by Zara's side at the hospital tested the limits of their endurance.

"You think the worst, not having any experience with this, seeing your baby in the incubator hooked up to so many tubes and so many wires," Roxy shares. Amid the uncertainty emerged Annie, a NICU nurse who became much more than a healthcare professional. "She was the positivity I needed during that time," Roxy recalls. "Every time I would break down, Annie just knew the right things to say." When Roxy and her husband couldn't be with Zara, Annie was there. She sent them constant updates, celebrated tiny victories, and even created a special video for Tristan's birthday.

While Zara's journey was marked by challenges such as multiple blood transfusions and struggles with feeding, she persevered. Today, she's home, healthy, and thriving, receiving regular physical and occupational therapy.

This challenging pregnancy journey transformed into a deeply passionate mission, as Roxy proudly embraces her role as a "Maternal Health Advocate and Warrior for Women." Roxy joined March for Babies to support her daughter, and she found an unexpected support system for herself: "Total strangers, who know what you're going through, could be the biggest support," she said. "This experience has completely changed my life—it's everything."

Roxy has often asked herself, "Why did this happen?" She admits, "It's an answer I may never have." Despite not understanding why her perfectly healthy pregnancy resulted in a preterm birth, Roxy remains hopeful. "I know [March of Dimes is] working hard to try to stop it and help as much as they can," she says. By sharing her story, she hopes to offer comfort to other families and contribute to March of Dimes research that could end preventable preterm birth.

Roxy is "in it for the long haul." She's committed to using her platform to advocate for maternal health and taking steps each year at March for Babies to raise funds. "I'm attached to this cause now, and I want to do what I can," she adds. "Whatever little thing I can do to make a positive impact to make a change, I'm here for it."

MEET LYNN TARINI

"We wanted to be able to process our grief and put it into something positive": One mom's journey of healing after the loss of her baby

PHILADELPHIA, PA—For Lynn Tarini, the loss of her daughter Mary was a devastating heartbreak. Born extremely preterm at just 8.8 ounces, Mary lived only a few moments before passing. Determined to find a way to cope with her grief, Lynn and her family turned their pain into a mission to help others facing similar challenges.

In 2006, Lynn joined March for Babies to honor Mary's memory. "We wanted to do something, we wanted answers, and we wanted to process our grief and put it into something positive," she shares. Through March for Babies, Lynn discovered a supportive community that understood her journey and shared her hope for a future where no family endures such pain.

Today, Lynn serves as the family team captain for "In Mary's Memory" and is a member of the Greater Philadelphia Executive Leadership Team for March for Babies. Reflecting on her experience, Lynn says, "Working with March of Dimes has given me a great opportunity to meet other families who've gone through what we've gone through. We've built great friendships with other family teams throughout the years."

The Tarini family's connection to March of Dimes grew even stronger as they celebrated the lives of four thriving preemies born since Mary's passing. For Lynn, March for Babies is more than just a walk; it's a day to remember Mary and to come together with family and friends. "This is the day we get to honor my daughter. We don't get to do birthdays, Christmas, or school events, but this is our day to celebrate her life, even though it was very short," she says.

The urgency of their involvement is clear: In 2023, over 370,000 babies in the US were born preterm—10.4% of all births. The alarmingly high preterm birth rate underscores the importance of March of Dimes' mission to fight for the health of all moms and babies. "Once you tell your story, you'd be surprised how many people have been touched by this mission," Lynn shares. "Someone has either had a loss, a preterm baby, or faced a maternal health risk. There are so many families in our Philadelphia community and across the nation affected by this."

Through her ongoing work with March for Babies, Lynn has turned her grief into action. "We are not going to give up until no other family endures the pain we suffered," she adds. By sharing Mary's story and championing maternal and infant health, Lynn continues making a lasting impact on families across her community and beyond.

MEET CRYSTAL HAYNES COPITHORNE

"I was prepared to fight for my son's life with my body; I wasn't prepared to fight for myself to be seen as a human being": A story of racism in maternal care

BOSTON, MA—On May 5, 2021, Crystal Haynes Copithorne thought she was going to die—and her baby with her. Blood was everywhere as paramedics carried her out of her home at 27 weeks pregnant. Instead of focusing on her critical condition or offering reassurance, they began asking questions that stunned her. Was she from this country? Was the white man standing in the road, watching in horror as she was loaded into the ambulance, her employer?

Struggling to process what was happening, Crystal explained: she was from Springfield, Massachusetts, where her family had lived for generations. She had been a public figure in Boston for over a decade, working in television. She owned that home. And the man outside, terrified for her life, was her husband, Jonathan.

Crystal had suffered a life-threatening hemorrhage due to complete placenta previa, a serious pregnancy complication where the placenta abnormally implants in the lowest part of the uterus, completely covering the cervical opening. This abnormal positioning disrupts the placenta's critical role in exchanging oxygen, nutrients, and waste between mother and fetus, leading to severe, uncontrolled bleeding and putting both lives at risk.

What should have been a moment solely about saving Crystal and her unborn child became a harrowing reminder of the biases Black women face even in their most vulnerable moments. Instead of receiving urgent care and compassion, she had to justify her humanity. "No woman should ever feel like they have to protect themselves while they're trying to protect their baby," Crystal says.

Unfortunately, this wasn't the only instance of racism she experienced that day. At the hospital, a nurse administering drugs to strengthen her son's lungs in case of an emergency delivery referred to an anti-nausea treatment as "ghetto." Turning to Crystal, the nurse remarked, "You know all about that, right?" When Crystal didn't respond, the nurse repeated the comment. Appalled, Crystal asked that the nurse be removed from her care.

For nearly 50 days, Crystal remained hospitalized, fighting not only for her son's survival but also for her own right to be treated fairly and with dignity. "I was prepared to fight for my son's life with my body; I wasn't prepared to fight for myself to be seen as a human being," she reflects.

Crystal's son, James, was born at 35 weeks via Cesarean section. His journey wasn't without challenges. After spending a month in the NICU, he faced an airway defect, severe asthma, and food allergies. But today, James is thriving—a happy child meeting or exceeding all his developmental benchmarks. For Crystal and her family, the story had a happy ending.

But for too many Black women and their babies, that's not the case. Black women in the US are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, and Black babies face higher risks of preterm birth, complications, and mortality. These disparities are not rooted in biology but in systemic racism, implicit bias, and inequities in healthcare. And every day, families are devastated by these injustices.

"March of Dimes is really such an amazing organization because they stand in the gap for mothers and babies who may not have the resources or the language to advocate for themselves," Crystal says. "That's why we're so excited to support this important cause."

As a March for Babies Ambassador Family, Crystal, along with her husband and son, hopes to unite communities in raising awareness about racial disparities in maternal health. "First and foremost, it's going to be a good time," she says, anticipating the March for Babies walk. "And secondly, I think just being inspired by all of the amazing stories of the other families."

Crystal's personal experience has fueled her passion for addressing maternal mortality and preterm birth, especially in her home state of Massachusetts. "I deserved to be treated like a human being, not defined by my ethnicity or the color of my skin," she says. "I'll continue to fight to make sure that no other mother and no other baby is at risk for any reason."

Events like March for Babies bring people together to raise awareness and funds to tackle America's maternal and infant health crisis. By supporting these efforts, individuals can help improve the health of moms and babies across the country.

Crystal's story also highlights how Black women are often forced to prove their worthiness in spaces where their presence should inherently demand care and attention. The fact that she had to justify her background, career, and homeownership to prove her belonging is both heartbreaking and infuriating. It mirrors a broader societal issue where Black people are continually tasked with justifying their existence and humanity, even when their lives are at stake.

MEET THE TAYLOR FAMILY

When Ashley's baby was born at 23 weeks, she knew there was only one thing to do: 'Everything possible'

WASHINGTON, DC—The road to parenthood looks different for everyone. For Ashley and Mitch Taylor, it began with challenges they could never have anticipated. But thanks to the support of March of Dimes and their NICU Family Support® program, their daughter Julia is alive today.

After a successful first round of IVF, Ashley's pregnancy was progressing smoothly until the unimaginable happened: at just 18 weeks, her water broke. "I screamed at the top of my lungs to Mitch," Ashley recalls. Mitch rushed her to the nearest hospital, Inova Alexandria in Virginia, where they feared the worst. "I thought we had lost the pregnancy," Mitch says.

Ashley was transferred to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where she was placed on bed rest in the high-risk pregnancy unit. For five weeks, she endured excruciating back pain and uncertainty, determined to give her baby a fighting chance. "I stayed on the third floor with other moms who were all going through complications, all waiting as long as they could to deliver their babies," she says.

At 23 weeks and six days, Ashley went into labor. "By the time I parked the car and got to the room, Julia was here," Mitch recalls. "I immediately looked at my mother-in-law and pointed toward Julia, asking, 'Is she alive?'"

Julia was born weighing just 1 pound, 2.3 ounces, and measuring 10.1 inches—small enough to fit in the palm of a hand. "When they asked me what I wanted to do, I said, 'Everything possible,'" Ashley says. Julia was immediately placed in the NICU's small baby unit, where she began the fight of her life.

From the moment Julia entered the NICU, the Taylors were supported by Victoria, a NICU Family Support Specialist from March of Dimes. "She met us where we were, no matter the stage," Ashley says. "She held our hands every step of the way."

The NICU journey was filled with ups and downs. Julia faced a level three brain bleed and needed surgery to insert a shunt to drain fluid from her brain. Complications arose when the shunt became infected and had to be removed, followed by weeks of antibiotics and another surgery to place a new shunt. Despite these challenges, Julia grew stronger every day.

After six months in the NICU, Julia was finally able to go home. Today, she is one year old and thriving. "She has so much personality and passion," Ashley says. "She's an amazing little girl—a bundle of joy."

The Taylors attribute Julia's survival to the care and support provided by March of Dimes and have joined March for Babies to honor Julia's incredible journey and to support other families facing similar challenges. "We are here walking because of Julia, because of March of Dimes. Without them, she wouldn't be here today," Ashley says.

Mitch adds, "As a dad, there's nothing harder than feeling helpless. All I could do was trust the people trained to care for her. March of Dimes made that trust possible." March of Dimes continues to work in hospitals across the country, supporting families with babies in the NICU and helping them transition home. "They're an incredible organization," Mitch says. "I wouldn't trade that type of support for anything in the world."

MEET KIM STROUT

"I wish that my doctors had provided more education about the risks and symptoms of preeclampsia": — What you don't know during a first pregnancy can be dangerous

BOSTON, MA—Vision disorientation. Flashes of light. A kaleidoscope of pain. As Kim's hands instinctively cradled her belly, she had a chilling realization: this wasn't just another migraine or a symptom of her pregnancy. Something was terribly wrong.

At 35 weeks pregnant, a trip to the emergency room in 2020 during the peak of COVID-19 revealed high levels of protein in Kim's urine, indicating preeclampsia—a serious blood pressure condition that can happen after the 20th week of pregnancy. The diagnosis came as a shock to Kim, who had not experienced any high blood pressure. She went out to the car where her husband, Ryan, was anxiously waiting due to COVID restrictions and broke the news: "We might be having a baby sooner than we thought." A short four days later, they returned to the hospital for Kim's induction.

After a grueling 54-hour induced labor, concerns for both Kim and her baby's health arose. "When we finally were at a point where I was ready to start to push, my heart rate started to go up and my son's heart rate started to go down," she says. After an emergency Cesarean section, Mason was born three and a half weeks early. He was diagnosed with a rare condition called giant congenital melanocytic nevus (GCMN)—a large, pigmented skin lesion which poses a risk of melanoma. After three surgeries before his first birthday, Mason's GCMN was successfully removed and found to be benign.

When Kim became pregnant again just seven months later, her doctor recommended a preventive measure Kim hadn't known about before: low dose aspirin. When prescribed, low dose aspirin (also called baby aspirin) can help keep you and your baby safe from the risks of preeclampsia. She started taking it at 12 weeks, as advised, experiencing no adverse effects and ultimately delivering her son, Maddox, via scheduled Cesarean section at 39 weeks. The planned delivery and preemptive measures provided a more controlled and less stressful experience compared to her first pregnancy.

Reflecting on her experiences, Kim emphasizes the need for comprehensive prenatal education. "I wish that my doctors had provided more education about the risks and symptoms of preeclampsia," she said. "I knew about preeclampsia, but what I didn't know was some of the other, less frequent, symptoms, like the ones that I had. I did not have any high-risk factors, but at least if I was aware of all of the signs and symptoms to look out for, I might have felt a little bit more proactive with my migraines."

As the new Chair for March for Babies Massachusetts, Kim advocates for maternal and infant health to connect others through her personal experience with preeclampsia and preterm birth. "It's great to have support from friends, family, and community members helping moms and babies," Kim says, whose employer Cambridge Savings Bank was one of March for Babies' sponsors. By sharing her story, she highlights the importance of early intervention in maternal health.

Luckily, despite the challenges, Kim's journey has been ultimately rewarding. "The love that I have for my boys is absolutely unconditional. They have changed my life in ways that I am so grateful for," she concludes, adding that both she and her children remain healthy following her pregnancies.