Why We Walk Wednesday: The Turner Twins

This week, a mom of preemie girls shares why she will March for Babies. 

On October 9, I was transferred from Civista (now Charles Regional) to University of Maryland Hospital in Baltimore by helicopter. I was just 23 weeks pregnant and having contractions. After a few weeks of bed rest, my twin girls were born at 26 weeks, 4 days. Abigail weighed 1 pound, 11 ounces. Elizabeth was 2 pounds, 4 ounces. They were micro preemies struggling to survive. 

At two weeks old, my husband and I got the horrible news that both girls had severe brain bleeds shortly after birth. It took my breath away, and I cried for a full day. All that the doctors could say about this devastating news was that we just had to give it time to see what damage it had caused. 

Abigail and Elizabeth were then transferred to Johns Hopkins to be followed by the Neuro team there. Abigail was transferred first, followed by Elizabeth two weeks later. I went back and forth between the two hospitals during those two weeks. It was a nightmare. 

During their 125 day NICU stay the girls suffered through numerous tests, labs, X-rays, MRI scans, ultrasounds, blood transfusions and even surgeries. They had to learn to breathe without being intubated, and they had to learn how to eat. Abigail came home with the assistance of oxygen and with a GTube. Elizabeth came home a few weeks later. My daughters had to fight to live, and they are amazing fighters. 

After four months in the NICU and three different hospital stays, I am happy to say the girls are now 15 months old and doing well. They love to look at books, play and dance. Each week, they receive physical and occupational therapy. They see numerous doctors and specialists, each for different reasons, but most importantly their doctors are pleased. There is no life like NICU life. It truly is a roller coaster. Every day you have no idea what is ahead of you. Your life stands still and time moves slowly.

I am thankful for all that the March of Dimes does for babies. My girls were so sick and small, and I know they are doing well today because of the amazing teams of doctors they had and because of the dedication and research funded by the March of Dimes.  

Why do I walk? I walk for my beautiful twin girls that were born at 26 weeks old and all the other babies born way too early. I also walk to support other parents of preemies, who know what it's like to ride on the horrific roller coaster that is the NICU.  

Meet the March of Dimes 2013 National Ambassador Family

Chris and Vince Centofanti thought they knew all about preterm birth. She was a neonatal nurse-practitioner caring for critically ill babies, and he worked for GE Healthcare’s maternal-infant care division, providing specialized medical equipment to hospitals. But then their own baby, Nina, was born nine weeks early, weighing less than three pounds. She suffered from respiratory distress and spent her first five weeks fighting for her life in a newborn intensive care unit (NICU).

While pregnant with Nina, Chris felt unwell at 31 weeks and went to the hospital. She was diagnosed with HELLP Syndrome, a form of high blood pressure with elevated liver enzymes and a low blood platelet count. It is a rare, but potentially life-threatening illness that typically occurs late in pregnancy. The only treatment is to deliver the baby as soon as possible. For the next 48 hours, Chris was treated with steroids to help develop baby Nina’s lungs before birth. At birth, Nina was immediately transferred to the NICU.

Today, Nina Centofanti has grown into an active 7-year-old who loves to dance, climb trees and turn handsprings. She has been named the March of Dimes 2013 National Ambassador. As ambassador, Nina and her family will travel the United States visiting public officials and corporate sponsors and encouraging people to participate in the March of Dimes’ largest fundraiser, March for Babies. Yesterday, she and her parents were interviewed on Fox & Friends where they shared their story and support of March of Dimes programs that help moms have healthy, full term pregnancies.


In addition to Nina, the Centofantis have an older son Nick, and a second daughter, Mia, who was born at 35 weeks of pregnancy, thanks in part to weekly progesterone treatments which reduced the risk of premature labor. “Even though things didn’t go as planned, we’ve been blessed with three healthy children, thanks in large part to the work of the March of Dimes. Just a few years ago, the outcome might be been very different,” says Chris. She adds, “Thanks to the care that Nina received, and the support of the March of Dimes for research and treatment, now we also know the relief and joy parents feel when their child survives and becomes healthy enough to leave the NICU and go home.”