Signature Chefs Auction of D.C.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Washington D.C.

(1150 22^nd Street NW, Washington, D.C.)

5:30 PM – Celebrity Reception Meet & Greet (Invite Only)

6:00 PM – Registration

6:30 PM – Doors Open

The March of Dimes annual Signature Chefs Auction is one of Washington, D.C.’s premier social events highlighting the city’s culinary masters brought together for an elegant evening of wine, cocktails and dining. We hope you will join approximately 500 affluent society members and business professionals as they support our mission while enjoying over 30 of the area’s celebrated chefs, mixologists and vintners.  What could be sweeter? The evening will also include auctions with unique dining, entertainment, travel and leisure packages.

 

Who will be there this year?

Signature Honorary Chef * Justin Bittner of Bar Pilar

Signature Cocktail Chair  * Jo-Jo Valenzula of Occidental

Fund the Mission Co-Chairs & Ambassador Family * Stephen & Tiffany Bowen, Washington Redskins DE & Wife

 

Where to Find More Information

Space is limited, so to reserve your ticket or table today, please visit our website below:

https://www.marchofdimes.com/marylandmetrodc/events/events_Chefs-DC.html

 

Exclusive sponsorship opportunities are also still available. 

For more information, please contact Nicole Vagnerini Dolan at NDolan@marchofdimes.com.

 

Follow our event on Facebook here!

Dine for Babies at Looney’s Pub-Bel Air

Dine for Babies at Looney’s Pub-Bel Air, Canton, Maple Lawn and College Park locations on October 24th

Join us on Wednesday, October 24th at all Looney’s Pub locations. 10% of the entire day’s sales (bar tabs included) will go to the March of Dimes. No flyer is necessary; just let your server know you are there to support the March of Dimes!!

For more information contact Heather Lynch at hlynch@marchofdimes.com

Redskins’ Stephen Bowen and Wife, Tiffany, Named 2013 Ambassador in Northern VA

When we found out that we were expecting baby number two we were elated and excited.  At our first ultrasound appointment we were told that we were expecting not one baby but two babies!  The joy we felt that day was indescribable.  I considered myself a healthy person and after a successful pregnancy just 18 months prior with our daughter we didn’t worry one bit.  Our joy quickly turned into chaos when I unexpectedly went into labor at 24 weeks.  On the morning of June 28, 2012, I got out of bed to find a puddle of blood at my feet.  Of course I panicked.  How could this be?  I received top-notch prenatal care.  When I arrived at the hospital I was informed that I was fully dilated. With my first pregnancy I was in labor for over 15 hours before I was fully dilated.  I hadn’t even felt any real pain.  After the most frightening hour of my life and an emergency C-section Baby Stephen and Baby Skyler were welcomed into the world!  The whole experience is still a blur to me.  Both babies were rushed to the NICU and put on ventilators, as their little lungs were not developed.  They were also treated with surfactant, which is a drug that allowed their underdeveloped lungs to expand on their own; a treatment that I later found out was funded by the March of Dimes.  Sklyer was 1 lb 7 ounces and Stephen was 1 lb 6 ounces.  The doctors prepared us for what would be a crazy roller-coaster and we immediately knew that it would be a tough and scary road for these boys.  We spent the next two weeks at the hospital, changing their diapers, and giving them their breast milk through an IV.  The boys were so fragile but we still prayed that they would develop into healthy little boys.  We knew that 24 weeks was the brink of viability for a baby but we also knew that many 24 weekers had a tough road ahead. 

 

 

On the evening of July 7 we were told that Baby Skyler caught an intestinal infection and that antibiotics would be used to fight it.  Our other son Stephen already had heart surgery just days before so we never expected Skyler to have a problem.  Up into this point he was actually the less dramatic baby.  By midnight the doctor called us to come back to the hospital -- the antibiotics were not working and Baby Skyler was crashing fast.  As soon as I ran though the NICU doors I saw the doctor’s face and I fell to the ground.  I will never forget how I just collapsed.  I looked to my husband -- the 310 pound football player -- and he looked at me and said “I’m so sorry Tiff.”  Even though Skyler was our baby he knew I had carried, talked to, prayed for, and mothered him since the moment I found out about his existence.  We held sweet Skyler until his little heart stopped and he was at peace with the Lord.  To leave that hospital that morning knowing I was leaving my son’s body inside -- there was no worse feeling.  I actually wanted to bring him home, put him in the bed with me, and cuddle with my baby like I had been picturing in my head for the past six months.  Instead I went home and sat in darkness for days.  Every time I tried to get out of bed it was like a magnet sucked me back in and I just couldn’t make it out.  Not to use the bathroom, not to shower, not even to see my family.  I made it clear that I wanted no noise -- no TV on in the house and no radio on in the car.  My world had stopped and I felt that the rest of the world needed to be stuck with me.  This was not fair. 

 

The only thing that kept me going was knowing that I had to visit my other baby, Stephen.  He needed me. He needed my love and my breast milk.  The only daylight I saw for the next few weeks was the car ride over to see baby Stephen.  Besides that I climbed right back in my dark room under the covers.  I slept so much and just knew that when I opened my eyes again this would all be a nightmare. It couldn’t be real. 

 

The next few weeks showed me that people just don’t know how to handle the loss of a child.  I got every comment in the book, and my most frequent one was, “At least you had two” Really? One child doesn’t replace another.  People don’t realize that every time I hear the word twin, I cringe.  To know that I had twins but one of them is missing is the worst feeling.

 

You never know how strong you are until you are forced to be. My next few months forced me to keep moving. I had children to care for.  When my husband signed a contract with Washington Redskins and had to leave us it was all on me.  Taking care of our 2-year-old, pumping breast milk for baby Stephen, and spending my time with him at the NICU, I didn’t have too much time to drown in my sorrows. I was just too busy. 

 

As parents of both a healthy NICU baby and another NICU baby that did not make it through, we know what the highest highs and the lowest lows feel like.  Our experience shows the world that prematurity and infant mortality happens to all -- poor, rich, white, black, healthy, and sick.   No one is immune to this.  That is why what the March of Dimes is doing is so important; I never thought that this would happen to me. I had a healthy first pregnancy, and in my second I received the best prenatal care and did everything right. And while I was put on bedrest, it was because I was pregnant with twins. There were no signs that anything was wrong. March of Dimes is working to understand why this happens to people like me. In 50% of all cases, the cause of premature birth is unknown. So March of Dimes is putting a lot of resources into understanding the causes of prematurity. They’ve come a long way, but there is still a lot of work to do.  

 

 

Ladies Night Out 2012 Western Maryland

Friday, November 09, 2012
Time: 6:00 PM
Cumberland Country Club
10200 Country Club Road
Cumberland, MD 21502

Enjoy an evening of pampering, shopping and socializing just for the ladies. Ladies’ Night Out will feature area vendors and services along with entertainment, hors d'oeuvres, a silent auction, giveaways and much more from 6:00 - 9:00 pm!

To purchase a ticket visit Ladies Night Out.
For information on sponsorship opportunities and/or how to participate as a vendor, please contact Jessica Wagoner at the Western MD Division March of Dimes at (301) 722-3867 or jwagoner@marchofdimes.com.

October is National SIDS Awareness Month

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, also known as SIDS, is the name for sudden and unexplained death of an infant younger than a one year old. Despite the decreases in SIDS, it has plateaued in recent years.  At the same time, other causes of sudden unexpected infant death that occur during sleep (sleep-related deaths), including suffocation, asphyxia, and entrapment, and ill-defined or unspecified causes of death have increased in incidence, particularly since 2005.

It is estimated that each year over 7,000 babies die from SIDS in the United States.  It strikes families of all races, ethnic and socioeconomic origins. Determining the cause of SIDS baffles scientist all over the world.

Ways to lower the risk for SIDS for your baby:

- Place babies on their back to sleep – This is the safest position for a baby to sleep in, placing them on their stomachs or sides nearly doubles the risk of SIDS

- Room sharing WITHOUT bed sharing.  Never sleep with your baby in the same bed, even if it’s just a day nap

- Avoid smoking cigarettes during and after your pregnancy to protect your baby from second-hand smoke

- Nothing should be in the crib with your baby. Keep soft objects, toys, blankets and loose bedding out of your baby’s sleeping area.  These items could potentially cover your baby’s face and cause suffocation

- Place your baby on a firm surface, such as a safety-approved crib mattress cover with a fitted sheet

- Breastfeeding your baby

- Using a pacifier at sleep time

- Keep immunizations up to date to avoid illness

- Avoid letting your baby get overheated during sleep.   Dress your baby in light sleep clothing and keep the room at a temperature that is comfortable for an adult

For more information about Safe to Sleep visit:

http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/upload/Safe_Sleep_2009_Eng.pdf

http://www.aap.org

http://www.sidsma.org

Thank You Family Teams!

Family Teams are integral in supporting our mission.

 

Checkout this March for Babies Thank You Video.

Maybe you’ll Recognize Someone!

March of Dimes Trail Run

Sunday, November 04, 2012
Time: 12:00 PM
Gambrill State Park, High Knob Area
8602 Gambrill Park Road
Frederick, MD 21702


The third annual trail run on Gambrill State Park’s Yellow Trail (with a little bit of green and black thrown in) will challenge the experienced trail runner with a 7-mile course and provide an introduction to trail running for the less experienced on a 2-mile course. Either way, you’ll enjoy the race, the comradery and the chance to support the March of Dimes.

Click here to register.

For more information, contact Nancy Wiley at nwiley@marchofdimes.com or (301) 865-1931.

A Look Back at How Far We've Come

Huffington Post ArticleHuffington Post Article

Picture this: It's summer, it's hot, your children are home from school, they want to go outside, they want to play with their friends, they want to go to the swimming pool. Because you live in 2012, they can and they do. But it hasn't always been that way. Some folks can remember summers in the late 1940s. It was hot and kids had just as much energy, if not more. But you wouldn't dream of letting them go swimming, or even out of the house, because there was a highly contagious disease going around out there that could cause paralysis and even death. It was called polio.

The healthy world that our kids grow up in today is made possible, in part, by the March of Dimes. Created in 1938 by President Franklin Roosevelt, who had polio himself, the March of Dimes funded research for the vaccines developed by Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin that would effectively end the polio epidemic in the United States, setting countless parents' minds at ease. There hasn't been a single new case of polio here in more than three decades.

For the March of Dimes, the polio vaccine was only the beginning of its work to help make kids and babies healthier. Flash forward with me now to the 1960s: You're expecting your first child when you develop a fever, swollen lymph nodes and a strange rash. You have rubella, commonly known as German measles. This isn't terribly surprising, as epidemics take place every six to nine years, but because you're pregnant, if you pass the disease to your unborn child, she could be born with severe birth defects. In 1969, Dr. Virginia Apgar and the March of Dimes led a rubella immunization program, with the goal of eradicating congenital rubella syndrome. Today, the U.S. can boast that it hasn't had a case of congenital rubella syndrome in 30 years.

The 1960s also bring a new president. John F. Kennedy is an inspiration to a generation. But there is a sadness in the Kennedy family. A baby son, born too soon and weighing only five pounds, dies from breathing problems. The world is left to wonder to this day what might have been if Patrick Bouvier Kennedy had lived.

Death was a tragic but common outcome of preterm births before the 1970s, when the March of Dimes called for a regionalized system of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) to care for very sick babies all across the U.S. The breathing problems that claimed the Kennedy's son remained a challenge until the 1980s, when March of Dimes grantee T. Allen Merritt of the University of california San Diego Medical Center developed "surfactant therapy" to help the immature lungs of babies born too small or too soon. This treatment is now used in hospitals every day, and has saved the lives of tens of thousands of babies.

Advancements continued, and in 1993 March of Dimes launched the National Folic Acid Campaign to raise awareness of the importance of this B-vitamin in preventing serious birth defects of the brain and spine known as neural tube defects (NTDs), and to increase the number of childbearing-age women who consume a daily multivitamin with folic acid as part of a healthy diet. The foundation also lobbied the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to add folic acid to the grain food supply, which was mandated in 1998. NTDs have declined by about one-third since food fortification.

With all these accomplishments, it's no exaggeration to say that the March of Dimes touches the life of every baby in some way. This spring, in an effort to raise awareness and fund continued research breakthroughs, the March of Dimes launched a new campaign called "imbornto." Based on the premise that every baby is born to do something great, the campaign encourages connsumers to shop, dine and donate at corporate partners across the nation during the time period between Mother's Day and Father's Day. After all, the best gift any parent can receive is a healthy baby.

As the organization enters its 75th year in 2013, funds are being allocated to research new treatments to prevent or halt preterm labor. And in communities across the country, more women are getting essential services and education to have the healthiest possible pregnancy.

Why the history lesson today? Because as parents in 2012, we're lucky. Our children will likely be healthier than any other from previous generations. And while most of the country is familiar with the name March of Dimes, few know the full scope of what this remarkable, uniquely American institution organization has done and is doing to create a healthier future for our children and our grandchildren. Just look how far we've come.

By Doug A. Staples
Senior Vice President for Strategic Marketing and Communication, March of Dimes

Thanks to everyone who Shopped For A Cause.

Thank you Macy’s shoppers! You shopped, saved and helped babies on August 25th and the results were incredible! As the exclusive national beneficiary of Shop For A Cause, more than $3.1 million was raised for March of Dimes. Thank you for supporting our proud partner Macy’s and moms and babies right in your community!

The Story of the Sanna Boys

One Mother’s Journey…

My mother’s first daughter was still-born. My mother’s second daughter was 3 months premature, weighing in at a mere 1 ½ pounds. Then there was me -- 2 months premature, weighing in at 3.8 pounds. I knew I would have a preemie. I started trying to see a specialist when having a baby was a mere thought – I wanted a head start on having a healthy pregnancy.

I was told that because I didn’t have a pregnancy history (i.e., previous still-births, miscarriages or premature births), that I just had to wait until I got pregnant. And then, after a year of trying, I got pregnant… I was the perfect pregnant patient… quit smoking cold turkey, took my prenatal vitamins, took extra folic acid, didn’t even have caffeine… ate healthier than I did during my healthiest times. The first set of tests showed an increased risk of Down Syndrome. I got very educated, very quickly. I opted out of an amniocentesis since it wouldn’t benefit the baby and just plug away at the pregnancy… doing my best to stay mentally and physically healthy. We picked the name Nicholas Anthony “Nico” and eight weeks before my due date (the day before my baby shower), preeclampsia sets in and he arrives through emergency C-section -- weighing in at a whopping 3 pounds, 14.6 ounces. He was perfect – perfectly healthy, just small. Our local hospital staff got an exception for us to stay locally. Because he was healthy, he didn’t need the special care of a big hospital… we stayed in the hospital for a week, waiting for him to gain enough weight to go home. The staff in Labor & Delivery had signs up that they were participating in the March for Babies walk. I had always heard of the March of Dimes, but never really knew what they did. At that point, I made a promise that I would walk every year that I could.

Fast forward a couple of years. We start planning baby #2. Again, I see the doctor before I get pregnant. He says to get pregnant and he will send me to a specialist right away because I had a history of prematurity now and the health insurance would cover it. Yippee! The specialists ordered fancy tests which determined that I have a condition in which my body does not process folic acid properly.

It’s great to know that we have a root to the problem! What a relief. Extra folic acid it is!!! At 15 weeks gestation, the specialists tell us they can tell us what we’re having. We’re dying to know whether we are having a girl or boy. But they see something and we can tell by the looks on their faces while reading the sonogram. The doctor returns and tells us we’re having a boy, but he has Spina Bifida. We are given an option of terminating the pregnancy, but we don’t even need to discuss it -- we are keeping this baby. I am dumbfounded as to how this can happen when we took all the right steps – well, Spina Bifida occurs within the first 28 days of pregnancy… so, by the time you even know you’re pregnant, it’s too late. The fancy test was just too late. After the initial shock of the news wears off, we opt to name him Jody Thorne Jr. “JoJo” and again, I do my best to stay mentally and physically healthy. The further we get into the pregnancy, the more tests reveal as far as his condition. Everything is planned out… the date they will do a scheduled C-section, the hospital, the surgeons, the specialists, insurance coverage. I had it down to a science. He was born 6 pounds, 1 ounce. The biggest baby on my side yet! He is yet another miracle baby!

My dedication to the March of Dimes is so that other families don’t have to go through these heart-wrenching stories. To feel as helpless as I did during pregnancy – because all you really want is a healthy child. It is because of the March of Dimes work and dedication that research is done so that these stories don’t have to be a statistic. They can reach out to society and to our lawmakers to fight for the rights of women and babies – of families, and make every story count. To ensure that health insurance companies are being proactive, and not just reactive, to the needs of our society. We have participated in each March for Babies since 2006… and began participating in the Bikers for Babies in 2010. Knowing that we CAN make a difference in our babies – our future – is the only reason I need to continue our journey. Please Join the Sannas at Bikers for Babies on October 7th 2012 at Maryland International Speedway.

Signature Chefs Auction – Central Maryland

Monday, November 05, 2012
Time: 6:00 PM
Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel
700 Aliceanna Street
Baltimore, MD 21202

We hope that you will be able to join us in our 13th year as we present the March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction in Central Maryland. Retired Oriole, Chris Hoiles, and his wife Dana will chair the event. Since 2000, this event has raised over $1 Million for the March of Dimes. You will enjoy an evening of fine food, wine and auction items. You will be able to visit over 30 of the area’s celebrated chefs all in one evening (see list below).

The VIP Reception will begin at 5:00pm, followed by the General Tasting and Auction at 6:00 pm.

To purches tickets visit Signature Chefs Auction – Central Maryland.

Sponsorships opportunities range from $5,000 to $25,000. Contact Jennifer Tarr, jtarr@marchofdimes.com, (410) 752-8152 for more details.

Particpating restaurants:
Sullivan’s Steakhouse
Patchwork Catering
Cabot Cheese
Café Gia
Aramark – Science Center
Royal Sonesta
Waterfront Kitchen
Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards
Saval Foods
Roy’s Restaurant
Grilled Cheese & Company
Kent Manor Inn
Thames Street Oyster House
TATU
Renaissance Hotels – Watertable Restaurant
Baltimore Waterfront Marriott
Innovative Gourmet
Clementine
Baldwin Station
Chef’s Expressions
Rocco’s Cappricios
Gertrudes
Hillendale Country Club
Della Notte
Rumor Mill
TenTen
Fleet Street Kitchen
Chazz – A Bronz Original

Meet TJ, Baby Crawl Winner

Meet TJ, the winner of the 2012 CareFirst/Mystics/MOD Baby Crawl at the Verizon Center! Thanks to everyone who came out onTuesday, September 4th to support March of Dimes, CareFirst and theMystics!

The Diaper Drive is toda,y September 9th starting at 4pm at the Verizon Center at 601 F Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20004. The Mystics have already collected over 3000 diapers! Please come out tonight and join the March of Dimes Mama Baby Bus, CareFirst and the Washing ton Mystics at the F street entrance between 6th and 7th Streets NW!

Family Team Committee Volunteers Needed

March of Dimes Maryland-National Capital Area is looking for volunteers to participate with your local March for Babies walk site Family Team Committee. The following Committees are recruiting members - Fairfax, Prince William, Washington D.C., Montgomery, Prince George’s, Greater Baltimore, Western Maryland (Allegany, Frederick and Washington Counties), Maryland Eastern Shore (Caroll, Wicomico, Worchester Counties) and Southern Maryland (Charles and St. Mary’s) . The Family Team Committee is to help increase Family Team involvement with 2013 March for Babies and other March of Dimes events.

This is a great way to get involved and make a difference in your community. The March of Dimes Maryland-National Capital Area Chapter had over 950 Family Teams participate in the March for Babies in 2012. Our amazing Family Teams raised over $780,000 to fund local programs and fund valuable research to increase the health of our pregnant moms and their babies. We need volunteers to help support our families in our community with their fight for healthy babies. Volunteers will meet once to twice a month beginning in October with a commitment of a year to the committee. The Family Team Committee will help recruit and develop Family Teams.

To volunteer please contact Heather Kane at hkane@marchofdimes.com .

Dine for Babies at MaGerk’s Pub

Dine for Babies at MaGerk’s Pub in Bel Air Sept. 12th from 5pm-10pm

Join us on Wednesday, September 12th from 5pm to 10pm at
MaGerk’s Pub in Bel Air to Dine for Babies. 10% of the nights proceeds will go to the March of Dimes. No flyer necessary.

For more information Contact Heather Lynch hlynch@marchofdimes.com

Shopped For A Cause

Thanks to everyone who Shopped For A Cause.

Thank you Macy’s shoppers! You shopped, saved and helped babies on August 25th and the results were incredible! As the exclusive national beneficiary of Shop For A Cause, more than $3.1 million was raised for March of Dimes.

Thank you for supporting our proud partner Macy’s and moms and babies right in your community!

Port Tobacco

Pre-Registration and Fundraiser Event
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH
5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Benefitting

NGJB Acoustic Lead Singer (7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.)
15% of all food purchases benefits the March of Dimes

Bikers for Babies
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Maryland International Raceway
11:00 AM – Gates Open
12:00 PM – Tattoo contest; Bike Show judging
2:00 PM – Ride Starts
After Ride Party: Apehangers Bar & Grill
For more information and to register, visit bikersforbabies.org or contact
Jennifer Abell 571-257-2310, jabell@marchofdimes.com

Golf for Babies - Greater Baltimore

Tuesday, October 09, 2012
Time: 12:30 PM
Registration: Time: 10:00 AM

Hillendale Country Club
13700 Blenheim Road
Phoenix, MD 21131

We hope that you will be able to attend the March of Dimes Fifth Annual Greater Baltimore Golf for Babies. This year’s event will take place in Northern Baltimore County at Hillendale Country Club. Join more than 100 Baltimore area community and business leaders and hometown celebrities who will enjoy 18 holes of golf, lunch, dinner, prizes and awards.

For information on how to play visit Golf for Babies.

Several sponsorship opportunities are available, ranging from $250 to $5,000. For more information, please contact Courtney Hendon at (410) 752-8076 or hendon@marchofdimes.com.

CareFirst, the Washington Mystics and the March of Dimes Diaper Drive September 7th!

CareFirst and the March of Dimes Mama & Baby Bus will be outside of the Verizon Center before the game collecting diapers for the Stork’s Nest programs in Washington Metropolitan Area. Last year, through the generosity of the community, the Washington Mystics collected 44,000 diapers.


Come and join the Washington Mystics as they play the Los Angeles Sparks on September 7th at 7pm and bring your diapers!

Ask your friends, co-workers and families to help the Mystics get as many diapers as possible. All sizes of diapers are accepted and can be dropped off at the Mama & Baby Bus on game night.

You will find the Mama & Baby Bus parked on F Street NW between 6th and 7th Streets NW before game time and through the first hour of the game. CareFirst, March of Dimes volunteers and the Zeta Phi Beta sorority members will be on hand to help you get your donation to the proper location.

There will be bins in the Verizon Center on September 7th before the game to collect your donations too. You can also drop off your donations in advance by contacting the Mystics at (571) 257-2301 or e-mail ddei@marchofdimes.com. To order tickets go to http://www.wnba.com/mystics/index_main.html.

Infant Loss Support

Here are some great resources for infant loss and
miscarriage:

NEW GROUP! For anyone who has suffered
an infant loss

Third Tuesday evening of every month at 7 pm.
Gainesville Church of God
7500 Logos Way
Gainesville, VA 20155



MIS/SHARE Grief Group Meeting Schedule
301-460-6222 (24-hour message line)
Virginia – MIS/SHARE
Meeting Location:
St. Luke’s United Methodist Church
7628 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church Virginia
Meets the 2nd Thursday of every month 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Contact: Carolyn Mara 703-754-5836

For support with subsequent pregnancies,
Carolyn Mara 703-754-5836

For Spanish Speakers:
Call Maria Robles 703-326-9262
Para Información en Español:
Llame por Teléfono a Maria Robles
703-326-9262
For more information on coping with
the death of a baby, please contact SIDS Mid-Atlantic at 703-955-6899
or sidsma27@aol.com or http://www.sidsma.org/ or http://www.novababyloss.org/



A Support Group for Families who have experienced the loss of a
baby through Miscarriage, Infant Death or Stillbirth

When a family experiences the loss of a child the grief journey can be a lonely
one. In order to help these families a parent-to-parent support group will be offered providing a safe place to share feelings and receive comfort from others who have experienced a similar loss.

The next group will be offered:

Thursday evenings:
August 16, 2012-September 20, 2012
7:00-9:00pm

The Lutheran Church of St. Andrew
15300 New Hampshire Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20905

Contact: Jeanine L. McGrath, RN, CD(DONA) jeaninemcgrath@gmail.com or 240-481-3903 to register or for more information.

Macy's Shop for a Cause

We hope that you will consider joining us at the following special events.


Macy's Shop for a Cause
August 25, 2012
Online and at Macy’s stores


Shop at Macy's for back-to-school must haves and other great deals and help save babies!

Get your shopping pass in store for just $5 and receive major discounts on purchase* made in store or at macys.com on August 25. Every pass sold will benefit the March of Dimes, the exclusive national in-store beneficiary of the Macy's Shop for a Cause 2012.

Last year, Macy's Shop for a Cause raised $3.2 million for the March of Dimes. Thank you for shopping at Macy’s and for purchasing the savings pass that helps babies!
*Some exclusions and restrictions apply.

Top 20 Family Teams

March for Babies 2012
Top 20 Family Teams
Fundraising Totals
As of 6/30/12


1. Team Davis- Townsend; Washington,D.C./NC – $33,673
2. WMC's team; Fairfax County – $14,670
3. Awakening; Greater Baltimore – $13,618
4. For Sophia and Charlotte; Greater Baltimore – $9,817
5. UBC Pacers; Caroline County – $7,962
6. Hannah's Legacy; Greater Baltimore – $7,621
7. Team Craft; Fairfax County – $7,598
8. Snuggle Bug Bunch; Charles County – $7,287
9. Team Collo; Fairfax County – $7,150
10. Trenton's Trotters; Caroline County - $7,088
11. HANK!; Washington, D.C. – $7,040
12. SNVC Success; Washington, D.C. – $6,777
13. Brayden Hurley Hatchett; Greater Baltimore – $6,551
14. Faith, Hope and Grace; Greater Baltimore – $6,320
15. Cuckoo for Camryn; Greater Baltimore – $6,242
16. Fairlington MOMS Club; Washington,D.C. – $6,212
17. CallieMay; Harford County – $6,104
18. In Memory of Little Robert; Charles County – $5,765
19. Team Emmy Bear!; Greater Baltimore – $5,707
20. Team HPB; Harford County – $5,502

Thank you to all our Family Teams for there hard work and dedication to give every baby a healthy start.

Maryland National Capital Area Family Teams raised in total $779,000 towards local programs and Research! Family Teams are the hart of the mission and with out you we could not do what we do.

Thanks to all our Family Teams and we look forward to March for Babies 2013!

Baby Crawl Challenge

Baby Crawl

Challenge

CareFirst, March of Dimes and the Washington Mystics invite you to register your baby for the CareFirst Baby Crawl Challenge to support the March of Dimes!

The Baby Crawl Challenge will take place at halftime during the Tuesday, September 4th Washington Mystics home game versus the Connecticut Sun at 7:00 PM.

Babies need to be crawling and not walking. Babies that walk during the event will be disqualified from the crawl. This applies even if it is the baby's fist steps! Babies are to have two adults with them -- one at each end of the crawl mat.

Participants will receive two (2) complimentary suite tickets to the game and bragging rights for having the fastest baby on court!

To register, please contact Dona Dei at (571) 257-2301 or e-mail ddei@marchofdimes.com.

Dr. Rebecca Bridgett to Chair Bikers for Babies

The March of Dimes Maryland-National Capital Area Chapter is pleased to announce that Dr.Rebecca Bridgett of Charlotte Hall, Md., will serve as chair for Bikers for Babies in southern Maryland.

“It is truly my honor to serve as the chair for this very worthy cause. With the increase in awareness and funding, we can ensure each baby is born healthy,” said Bridgett, Acting Director of Human Resources for the Charles County Sheriff’s Office. Bridgett is a lifelong resident of Charles County. She and her husband, Dennis, are Harley-Davidson motorcycle enthusiasts and long-time supporters of the March of Dimes.

“The involvement of high-profile local leaders is a key element in our goal of helping more babies come into the world healthy,” said Jennifer Abell, senior community director for the March of Dimes in southern Maryland. “We are fortunate to have someone so dedicated to our cause.” Premature birth touches half a million babies and their families every year including 9,568 in Maryland. Babies born too soon are more likely to die or have disabilities.

More than 120,000 babies are born each year with serious birth defects that can mean a lifetime of disability. Babies born healthy need champions, too, to be sure they have access to newborn screening and preventive health care. The March of Dimes is there for all babies.

In southern Maryland, Bikers for Babies will take place October 7 at Maryland International Raceway. Registration begins at 11 a.m. and the ride starts at 2 p.m. There will be a tattoo contest and bike show at noon along with vendors and music. Individual riders as well as members of clubs can join to help fund life-saving research and educational programs aimed at helping moms have healthy babies.

Participants will ride the open road, covering 45 miles starting at Maryland International Raceway and ending at Apehangers Bar & Grill for an After-Ride Party. The party will include a free bull roast and music by The Craze and Naked. Supporters who aren’t able to participate in the ride are encouraged to meet the riders at Apehangers to attend the party (a $20 donation to the March of Dimes will be taken at the door). All motorcycles are welcome and the ride will be held rain or shine.

“It’s easy to join me,” said Bridgett. “Just visit http://www.bikersforbabies.org/
, stop by Apehangers for a sponsor envelope or contact Jennifer Abell at the March of Dimes , 571-257-2310.”

Volunteer, vendor and sponsorship opportunities are available, too. Millions of babies have been saved from death or disability thanks to advances made by March of Dimes-funded scientists. But too many babies are still born prematurely or with birth defects. Every year, thousands of compassionate motorcyclists across the country show they care by taking part in Bikers for Babies.

Congratulations to the Maryland National Capital Area Chapter

Our Family Teams are the heart of the March of Dimes mission and because of that we want to reward you with some special opportunities for your fundraising efforts in March for Babies. The following teams have won the opportunity to recognize a hospital of there choice.


$20,000 – Opportunity to present a piece of furniture from Bob’s Discount Furniture (with your team name included) to the NICU of your choice*

Team Davis-Townsend

$10,000– Opportunity to provide March of Dimes educational materials to NICU of your choice*

Awakening
WMC's team

$5,000 – Opportunity to present a plaque to your favorite doctor or nurse at a NICU of your choice*

Brayden Hurley Hatchett
CallieMay
Children's National Medical Center
Cuckoo for Camryn
Fairlington MOMS Club
Faith, Hope and Grace
For Sophia and Charlotte
HANK!
Hannah's Legacy
In Memory of Little Robert
Kathryn's Team
MOMS Club of Alexandria-Franconia
Snuggle Bug Bunch
SNVC Success
Taylor Asha
Team Collo
Team Craft
Team Emmy Bear!
Team HPB
Team Katelyn20175
Trenton's Trotters
UBC Pacers

Please Note: Levels are not cumulative and will be reflective of all monies turned in by Friday, June 1, 2012. These opportunities only applies to Family Teams and therefore cannot include a hospital, corporation or organization, but could be a sub-team of one of the above.

*NICU choices must be located within the Maryland-National Capital Area Chapter. This includes Northernm Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. Any family who qualifies for the plaque presentation who wishes to present to a doctor or nurse not located in this area will still have the opportunity to have a plaque made, but will have to coordinate the presentation themselves with that hospital.

Congratulations Team Davis - Townsend!!!

 

Team Davis – Townsend was one of the top 10 March for Babies Family Teams in Nation! 

They have won a trip to the March of Dimes Volunteer Leadership Conference in Walt Disney World!  Team Davis -Townsend of Washington D.C. raised a combined total of $33,805 for March for Babies!  Thank you for all your hard work!

Liam Gabriel McLaughlin

After three months of scary and nerve-racking doctor appointments starting in September of 2008, Liam decided he wanted to arrive in time for Christmas and was born on December 24, 2008.  We on the other hand, had no idea what the next 118 days would be like…

Liam was born weighing only 360 grams - less than one pound. He was so tiny. We didn't get to hold him right away, but we did get to see him and hear his quiet little cry before he was taken to the NICU. There is nothing that can prepare you for the NICU. We didn't know what to expect – this was a whole new experience for us. I remember being very nervous the first time Thomas wheeled me into the NICU, looking around at all of the equipment and wondering what Liam was going to look like and what machines he was going to be hooked up to. We finally made our way back to the corner of room two and there he was. I cried. I was allowed to touch Liam, but I was too scared at first.  He was so tiny and fragile, but I finally got up enough courage and I touched my little man on the arm.

Every day seemed to be a little bit easier than the day before going through the NICU doors. We would get excited and couldn't wait to see Liam, but we would also feel anxious to see his doctors and nurses. They are amazing people. Every person that cared for Liam, including his doctors, his nurses, and the RT staff made us feel welcome and always took the time to talk to with us and explain anything and everything that was going on with our little boy. And he went through A LOT! Liam had PDA surgery, ROP surgery, many PICC lines and ART lines, one CVL procedure, an Upper GI, many ultrasounds, x-rays and tons and tons of heal sticks – just to name a few. :) But the biggest obstacle was Liam's liver – something he was never able to overcome.

Liam had many "status quo" days in the NICU, but also many rough ones. No matter what his day was like, though, Liam was in control. We let him decide. He would let us know if he’d had enough. And on April 20, 2009 we knew he’d had enough. We were fortunate enough to be able to "prepare" (as much as any parent can) for Liam's final day in the NICU. To us, the moment was perfect. We were surrounded by many of those who had cared for Liam since day one – It just made sense.

During our NICU journey, we started a Carepage. For us, it was a way to share our experiences and updates with our family and friends. It was a way for us to write down our feelings and our emotions and a way to let Liam know how proud we were of him. We never expected over 500 people to read our story and leave us over 2500 messages. We were overwhelmed! It was such a blessing to have so much support from people we have known and from some that we have never met. We thank Liam for that.  He brought so many people together – this tiny little miracle that only a few people ever got to meet.

A little over a week after Liam passed away, we had a Celebration of his life. It was a way for us to thank those that supported us along our journey and a way to celebrate our brave little boy. We released 118 balloons and gave each person a "Liam" bracelet.

Today, we continue to celebrate Liam. We planted a garden in our backyard with a tree and some plants that were given to us. We also added a bench, some solar lights and a few angels. It is a place we enjoy seeing everyday and have named "Liam's Garden." We are also fortunate that his resting place is five minutes from our house. We visit every Sunday. Liam gets fresh flowers and sometimes even a new toy.  Christian and Emma (my stepchildren) also love visiting with Liam and have left him many toys – SpongeBob, Happy Meal toys, bubbles. Another way we celebrate Liam is by keeping many pictures of him up around our house. We are reminded everyday of how precious and beautiful he was.  We will never meet a stronger little boy who had such a great, fighting spirit.