Are You A Grateful GRANDparent?

Grandparents always remember the first time they held their grandchild.

 

Grandparents hold a special place in our hearts. They are our trusted advisors.  They celebrate our successes and offer guidance when we are challenged. They are often the glue that keeps our families together, especially in times of crisis.

 

Grandparents supported the March of Dimes research when we conquered polio. We are grateful to have their support as we tackle preterm birth.

 

Grandparents share in the joy of each milestone of their grandchildren. Here, Nana Pamela holds Evelyn and Adrien on their first day home together from the Holy Cross Hospital NICU.

 

Take the Grateful GRANDparent Challenge:

 

Raise $1000 or more for March for Babies.  All our Grateful GRANDparents will:

 

▪ Be recognized at the March for Babies Walk

▪ Have their Name listed on the Chapter Family Team Blog

▪ Receive a Grateful GRANDparent Button

▪ Make a difference in babies lives everywhere

            

Join our Grateful GRANDparents Challenge: Contact Heather Kane at (571) 257-2311 or hkane@marchofdimes.com

EAT, DRINK & RAISE MONEY!

Come support a DOUGH RAI$ER

to benefit the March of Dimes

Team Itty Bitty Angels

UNO will donate 20% of your check to this fund

Eat in or take out all day long!

Date: 3/3/13

Location: Manassas, VA

Must present a flyer to your server. 

Click here to print flyer.

unodoughraisers.com

 http://www.pdf.investintech.com/preview/d4f25bbf-85f5-40ef-ad2e-0a7efeb4abef/index.html

Early intervention for children ages 3 and older

In a prior blog post, I shared how to find early intervention services for babies and toddlers, up to age 3. In this post, I will tell you what to do if your child is between the ages of 3 and 21 years old.

 
Once your child turns 3, early intervention services are now called Special Education and Related Services, and your local school district becomes the provider of services to your child.

If your child had been receiving services in the babies and toddlers program, then usually the program administrator will help you with the transition to the local school district, if it is recommended that services continue. Each State is responsible for making sure that a smooth transition occurs between the existing program and that of the new preschool program.

If your child was not receiving services up until this point, you have not “missed the boat.” Often problems or issues are not evident until your child reaches school age or later. If you (or your child’s health care provider or teachers) suspect there may be a developmental issue or problem, you can request to have your child evaluated by your school district. The evaluation is free to you – it is paid for by your school district and federal funds.

How to request an evaluation

The request for an evaluation should be made in writing (ideally) but it can also be verbal. It should be sent to the Principal of your local school, or to the Special Education Administrator of your school district. Then, they should contact you and set up an appointment for an evaluation.

Who will test your child?

The evaluation may be done in one or more sessions and with one or more professionals, depending on your child’s needs. For example, the school psychologist may do some testing to determine your child’s educational and cognitive (thinking, memory, and reasoning) levels. Then he may or may not recommend that the speech therapist also screen your child in the area of language and speech. If your child is having trouble with fine motor skills, such as holding a pencil or feeding himself, he may also be evaluated by an occupational therapist. If there are gross motor concerns, such as walking, running or even catching a ball, then a physical therapist may be asked to evaluate your child, too. The school district will coordinate all of the screenings and soon you should be called back to hear the results from the professionals.

Will your child qualify for services?

To be eligible to receive services, your child must be found to be a “child with a disability” as defined by IDEA – the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (a federal law). Keep in mind that a “developmental delay” is one of the qualifying conditions, at least up until the age of 5 in most states, and up to age 9 in others. So, it is not always necessary to “label” a child with a specific diagnosis, (especially if the testing is not conclusive) in order for him to qualify for services.

As the law stands today, the 14 qualifying conditions or disability categories are:

• Autism
• Deaf-blindness
• Deafness
• Developmental delay (subject to each state’s specific criteria, and usually only up to age 9 and sometimes younger)
• Emotional disturbance
• Hearing impairment
• Intellectual disability
• Multiple disabilities
• Orthopedic impairment
• Other health impairment
• Specific learning disability
• Speech or language impairment
• Traumatic brain injury
• Visual impairment

For more info on whether your child qualifies for services, contact NICHCY, the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities, at 1-800 695 0285. For detailed descriptions of the 14 categories, please see NICHCY’s summary sheet and visit their webpage.

Once you have reviewed the evaluation results, if you disagree with the outcome of the evaluation, you may choose to take your child for an independent (private) evaluation. You can request that the school district pay for it. Sometimes they do (but not always).

Once your child qualifies, what happens next?

If the testing shows that your child fits the criteria for receiving services, the professional team will meet with you to develop an Individualized Education Program or IEP. This plan will provide the details of the services your child will receive, including “related services” (speech, OT, PT, etc.) and supplementary aids and services (such as specific supports or changes to the curriculum to meet your child’s individual needs).

The IEP will specify details about the services provided. It should include where and when your child will receive services, with whom (such as a therapist, teacher, specialist) and how often (eg. daily, weekly). Most importantly, the IEP’s goals should be clearly defined and measurable. In a later blog post, I will give you a lot more information about IEPs.

For a snapshot of this process, please see NICHCY’S 10 Steps in the Special Education Process. This sheet will help you keep track of where you are in the process.

Bottom line

If your child is struggling in a particular area, or if you just have that nagging feeling that something isn’t right, it is better to seek help earlier rather than later. By having an evaluation done, you will learn a great deal about your child. If he needs assistance, the sooner the help begins, the sooner he can improve.
Have questions? Send them to AskUs@marchofdimes.com.

Note: This post is part of the new weekly series Delays and disabilities – how to get help for your child. It appears every Wednesday. We welcome your comments and input.

Tags: developmental delay, disabilities, early intervention, IDEA, IEP, related services, special education, supplementary aids and services, testing

 Posted in Help for your child, Uncategorized | No Comments »

BE YOUR BEST FOR BABIES!

Accept the Challenge to Be our Best for Babies and commit to raising more than ever

as we celebrate 75 years of stronger, healthier babies.

 

2013 is the March of Dimes 75 Anniversary!  In celebration of the 75^th anniversary we have launched the BE YOUR BEST FOR BABIES! Campaign.  We are asking all walkers to look at your best fundraising year and set your 2013 March for Babies goal to beat that amount.  When you register for 2013 March for Babies, your goal will self-populate to be slightly higher than your best year. You can set your goal to be whatever you would like, but we encourage you to take the challenge and be your best for babies. The next step is to let your friends and family know that you’ve taken the challenge by clicking on the BE YOUR BEST FOR BABIES! box on your personal and team page.   

Nominate a Top Student Leader for the 2013-2014 National Youth Council & Collegiate Council Ambassador Program!

2012-2013 National Youth Council

Do you know a student leader who has shown incredible passion and dedication for the March of Dimes? The March of Dimes is looking for passionate rising or current college students to lead youth volunteers and help all babies have a healthy start! We invite advisors and mentors to nominate a student leader for March of Dimes National Youth Council and Collegiate Council Ambassador roles.
The National Youth Council is comprised of the Foundation’s top college volunteer leaders committed to promoting, supporting, and implementing youth leadership development initiatives.

Collegiate Council Ambassadors are college students (incoming freshmen though seniors) who implement and grow student groups, called Collegiate Councils, dedicated to year-round activities to support the March of Dimes mission in their local community.

New members are provided with orientation, ongoing training and mentoring. Throughout their experience, members will be offered opportunities for professional development and personal growth.

Nominations are due March 1, 2013. For detailed descriptions on these positions and to nominate a student leader, download our nomination form.

For more information, please contact teamyouth@marchofdimes.com.

Tags: Collegiate Council Ambassador, National Youth Council, Student Leaders

Posted in Team Youth, Volunteers | No Comments

 

Family Team Sponorship

Family Teams are at the heart of the March of Dimes mission and an inspiration to all March for Babies supporters. It is so meaningful that Family Teams chose to honor or remember a special baby in their lives by walking with us in March for Babies and raising money for the March of Dimes. Your contributions will truly change the future.

 

Family team sponsorship is an opportunity for Family Teams to promote local businesses while also adding to your Family Team total!

Here’s how it works:

1. Contact local businesses and ask if they would consider sponsoring your Family Team at one of the sponsorship levels.

2. Once they agree, they make a tax-deductible donation to the March of Dimes. This donation is credited to your Family Team total!

3. The local business receives advertising the Day-of the event and satisfaction of supporting a great cause.

4. If your team sells 3 Family Teams Sponsorships, the March of Dimes will create a sign honoring your team’s story.

Who can I ask? Anyone!

Your employer, hair salon, favorite restaurant, local construction company, pediatrician, landscaper, local bank, etc. The possibilities are endless!


Visit the Family Team Resource Page of the FT blog for a Family Team Sponsorship Form for your walk site. 

Are you a Cinemama?

Cinemama is an iPhone app that lets you turn daily photos of your belly into a fun movie momento of your pregnancy. You can record memories and milestones in a diary while staying informed with weekly healthy pregnancy tips.

Track your growing belly with pictures organized by day and month in an easy to view calendar mode. The more photos you take the better your movie will be. Customize it with titles and one of our soundtracks for a great effect. You can keep it private or share it with friends and family.

It’s cool, it’s fun, it’s free! Check it out!

Tags: Cinemama, home video, phone app, Pregnancy, pregnancy calendar, pregnancy diary
Posted in Hot Topics, Pregnancy | No Comments »

Managing your March for Babies Online Fundraising Tool

Online Fundraising Tool (OFT)

Online fundraising Tool (OFT) is the best way for your team to raise money.  Family Teams that have personalized their website raise more money than the teams that use the generic page.  Many teams will put an updated picture of their child, family or the previous year’s team.  Engage your team members and  tell your story and why you are marching in March for Babies.  Make sure that both your personal web page and your team web page are personalized. 

Setting a goal! 

Make sure you set a goal.  2013 is the March of Dimes 75 Anniversary!  In celebration of the 75^th anniversary we have launched the BE YOUR BEST FOR BABIES! Campaign.  We are asking all walkers to look at your best fundraising year and set your 2013 March for Babies goal to beat that amount.  When you register for 2013 March for Babies, your goal will self-populate to be slightly higher than your best year. You can set your goal to be whatever you would like, but we encourage you to take the challenge and be your best for babies. The next step is to let your friends and family know that you’ve taken the challenge by clicking on the BE YOUR BEST FOR BABIES! box on your personal and team page.   

If this is your first time walking in March for Babies, then we encourage you to personalize your goal.  For example if you child was in the NICU for 100 days set your goal at $1,000.  $10 for every day they spent in the NICU.  There is not a minimum dollar amount required amount to raise for March for Babies, so make sure you are comfortable with your goal amount.  The average Family Team raises $1000 and the average walker on a team raises $200.  If you recruit five friends and family to walk with your team and ask them each to set a personal fundraising goal of $200, overnight your team will have raised $1,000. It is that easy!

Communication!  Communication!

The best part of your OFT page is the communication tool.  It allows you to store your team contact information, generates emails and sends them out for you!  There are also neat tools such as personalized ecards, Facebook widgets and signature badges.  This is a fun and exciting way to engage your teammates.  Additionally, all the information is stored for next year!!!  The key to a successful team is communication; send out regular updates to all team members on how your team is doing.  Then sit back and watch your team grow!

For more information go to our Quick Guide to Online Fundraising.

Also check out our YouTube videos on Setting up your Online Fundraising page.

Harford County March for Babies Family Team Kick Off

Join us for the 2013 Harford County March for Babies Family Team Kick Off, Wednesday, February 20^th at That Bouncy Place in Forest Hill from 6pm to 8pm. The event is an opportunity to learn more about the March of Dimes signature fundraising event, March for Babies and to celebrate our 75^th Anniversary. We hope that you can attend to meet other team captains, hear motivating stories and learn more about the mission of the March of Dimes and our impact in the community. Team captains will have the opportunity to pick up any fundraising materials they will need for their campaign.

Click Here To View Invitation!

RSVP by February 13, 2013 to Heather Lynch hlynch@marchofdimes.com

Our little Georgia Peach

I have angels disguised as friends that have encouraged me to tell my story and get involved with March of Dimes. Not only will this be therapeutic for me, but more importantly, I will have the opportunity to help others.  This is one of the greatest gifts of all.

In August of 2010, my husband and I decided to go on a “Babymoon” to Savannah, Georgia. I had always heard of how beautiful it was there, and the fact that it was a short plane ride away from Virginia sold me.

Before we left, I had an appointment with my OB/GYN.  I asked her for a green light to fly on a plane, given I was 32 weeks pregnant.  She said everything seemed normal, so we were on our way to a relaxing vacation. 

I had a prenatal massage the second day we were in Georgia and later worked out on the elliptical machine at the hotel.  That evening, I realized I hadn’t felt my baby kick or move in the last few hours.  I told my husband that if I still hadn’t felt anything by morning, we should go to a clinic to make sure everything was okay. At 7 a.m. the next morning, I woke up after a worrisome night and still hadn’t felt our baby move.  My husband was on his laptop soon after and found a hospital close by. 

On our way to the hospital, I called my sister in Texas and told her not to worry, but that we were going to the hospital just to make sure that the baby was fine.  I told her NOT to call my parents or other siblings.  I knew it would only worry them for no reason.

When we arrived at the hospital, we were admitted soon after.  The nurse gave me some apple juice to sip on in an effort to raise the baby’s heart rate.  According to the nurse, the baby’s heart rate was not fluctuating.  It was stagnant at 140.  They put this apparatus on me that zapped my belly to try to “wake the baby.”  The heart rate was still the same. 

The next thing I remember the hospital’s resident was telling me, “We need to deliver now.”  I asked, “Deliver what?”  I hadn’t a CLUE!  He said, “the baby.”

I was quickly rushed into the surgery room for an emergency C-section.  In the meantime, my husband was calling our extended family to let them know our baby was coming.  I was sitting there being prepped for surgery, shivering with fear. I had NEVER trembled like that before but it felt like I was sitting on an iceberg in the middle of nowhere…helpless.  I looked up at the anesthesiologist right before surgery and I said, “Please save my baby!” I told him I was scared and the next thing I knew, I woke up, looked down and saw my flat stomach.  It took a while for things to sink in.

At 32 weeks and 4 days, our beautiful daughter was born. Francesca Margo Flewelling.  Many emotions were rushing through including excitement, anxiety, fear, sadness, happiness…the list goes on! All we could do was just ride the wave! We had no other child to compare our newborn experience to, so living in a hotel and visiting our baby girl in the NICU for 3 ½ weeks was “normal” to us. 

Soon after the delivery, I was greeted by a March of Dimes representative. She gave us a bag of goodies and told us that if we needed anything, we could lean on them. After a few days, I went to a March of Dimes workshop in the hospital where we made necklaces with symbolic charms. Not only did this take my mind of things, it was nice to be surrounded by others who were experiencing an early childbirth.  I actually met a very dear friend in the workshop who I keep in contact with.

My husband and I had to drive 12 hours back to Virginia with a newborn.  I was a nervous wreck! Despite being sent home with an apnea monitor and our daughter having reflux, everything was fine. After all, we brought back the best souvenir possible. It wasn’t until our daughter was 5 months old until we realized she wasn’t grabbing things with her right hand. I researched this and realized an early hand preference is not normal. Long story short, (AS IF this story isn’t long!) she has been diagnosed with right sided hemiplegia.  This falls under the Cerebral Palsy umbrella.  The CP words were scary at first, but I realize they were scary because of my ignorance and stigma that I had on those words…Cerebral Palsy.  I’m embarrassed to say this, but when I was young, I thought Cerebral Palsy was a disease! 

The neurologist and physiatrist tried to appease me by telling me that Cerebral Palsy is an umbrella term and has a large spectrum.  Our daughter is on the mild side.  I can’t help but turn my head and think of my friends who have children with Cerebral Palsy on the opposite side of the spectrum. Why them?  Why us?

We have been down a winding road since the diagnosis.  Francesca, our daughter, has been in PT since she was 6 months old and OT & Speech since she was one year old. She is now 2 ½ and close to walking!  

Until now, I have wanted to remain private with my daughter’s diagnosis. Not only do I not like labels, but I don’t want people to pity us or feel sorry for our situation. Our daughter is a gift and she is perfect in our eyes.

I am proud to be a team leader in the March of Dimes walk this summer in Virginia.  Our little Georgia Peach and our experience with March of Dimes have inspired me to do so.

Moms Day Out!

Come to MaGerk’s Pub and Grill in Bel Air on March 9^th from 2pm-4pm to have some fun with local moms and help benefit the March of Dimes. Ticket cost is $30 and includes appetizers, domestic drafts and house wines. Vendors on site: thirty-one, Scentsy, Tastefully Simple, Arbonne, and The Pampered Chef. We will be raffling off exciting gifts and “mom” themed baskets. Hosted by March for Babies team Sanzone Twins.

Christine Sanzone- csanzone@hotmail.com or 410-812-3747

From Polio To Prematurity

March of Dimes, the leading non-profit organization for maternal and infant health, will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2013 and its ongoing work to help all babies get a healthy start in life. About 4 million babies are born in the United States each year, and the March of Dimes has helped each and every one through research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs. (Click here to view the multi-media news release.)

The March of Dimes plans a year-long celebration in 2013 beginning on January 30th to honor its founder, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who was born on that day. Affected by polio himself, FDR established the Foundation in 1938 to “lead, direct and unify” the fight against polio. In FDR’s day, polio was an epidemic disease that paralyzed or killed up to 52,000 Americans, mostly children, every year.

The March of Dimes got its name when comedian Eddie Cantor asked Americans to send their dimes to FDR at the White House to help defeat polio. The foundation later funded the development of the Salk vaccine, which was field tested in 1954 and licensed a year later, as well as the Sabin vaccine, which became available in 1962. Nearly all babies born today still receive a lifesaving polio vaccine.

Throughout its history, the March of Dimes has supported many important research milestones that have benefitted newborn and child health. For example, in 1953, James D. Watson and Francis Crick identified the double helix structure of DNA, announcing, “We have found the secret of life.” Watson had received a grant from the March of Dimes that helped support his research on “protein patterns.” The team’s work won the Nobel Prize in 1962 and paved the way for modern genetic medicine, including the mapping of the human genome.

Another research breakthrough came in the early 1960s when March of Dimes-supported
grantee Dr. Robert Guthrie developed the first screening test for PKU (phenylketonuria), allowing prevention of intellectual disabilities caused by PKU through diet. Since that time, the March of Dimes and family groups have campaigned tirelessly for expanded newborn screening. Today every baby born in every state in the U.S. receives screening for dozens of conditions that could cause catastrophic health problems or death if not detected and treated promptly at birth.

“For 75 years, March of Dimes has dedicated itself to giving all children an equal chance at a healthy start in life,” says Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of March of Dimes. “Since our founding, research has been a key strategy that has led to many new treatments and saved thousands of lives.”

Today, the March of Dimes is hard at work to prevent the epidemic of premature birth, which affects nearly a half million babies every year. It established the March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center at Stanford University School of Medicine that is bringing together the brightest minds from many disciplines -- geneticists, molecular biologists, epidemiologists, engineers, computer scientists and many others -- to work together and find answers to explain and prevent preterm birth.
The March of Dimes current research portfolio consists of about $100 million in grants to investigators throughout the United States and in about a dozen countries worldwide.
As part of its ongoing mission to improve babies’ health, the March of Dimes is releasing its first consumer guide to pregnancy this month. Written by March of Dimes medical adviser Dr. Siobhan Dolan and published by Harper Collins, Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby includes tips on pre-natal care, and the latest guidance and advice on genetics, caffeine and alcohol in pregnancy, immunizations you need, and many other topics. The book can be pre-ordered at: marchofdimes.com/healthymombook.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies®, March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

News Moms Need

New Blog Series

Having a baby is a wonderful journey. It is filled with unexpected joys, moments of laughter, pride and boundless love. But what happens if something goes wrong? Or, if you suspect that something is not right with your baby or child? What should you do?

The first thing to realize is that you are not alone. There are many parents out there who have been (or are) in your shoes. This new blog series will give you the knowledge you need to help you deal with the unexpected. It will take you from the beginning (when you suspect or confirm that something is not going according to plan), right up through your baby’s childhood to help you navigate the choppy waters. Hopefully, with this “GPS,” you will feel in control of your journey.

If you are reading this blog post, you may suspect that something is not right with your baby or child. But, you may not want to take the next step because you are cautious about labeling your child, or you are simply afraid of the road that you may end up going down. Well-meaning grandparents, relatives or friends may tell you that your child is fine, marches to a different drummer, needs discipline or time. That may all be true, but you know your child best. If you think that there is a chance that your baby is struggling or is delayed, then the best gift you can give your child is the help he needs to catch up – as soon as possible. Time matters. In many cases, babies and young children qualify for “early intervention services” based simply on a “developmental delay” and a more detailed diagnosis is not necessary to receive helpful services. So, “labeling” your child may not be an issue at all. Try not to worry about what other people may think; just concentrate on getting your child help.

Why this blog? Why March of Dimes?

The March of Dimes’ history is lengthy. Since 1938 we have been working tirelessly to improve the health of babies and children. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) founded the March of Dimes to defeat polio, a crippling disease that afflicted him. Success came in the form of a vaccine which protects children from polio to this day. FDR was an outstanding advocate for the disabled, and knew all too well how a disability affects not only an individual, but also his/her family and society.

After polio, the March of Dimes went on to fund some of the greatest medical advances of the 20th century. In fact, our work has been recognized with 13 Nobel Prizes (that could be its own blog series!). But I digress…The point is that inherent in the March of Dimes is the goal to help babies and children live healthier lives. So, helping parents find resources for their children when things go wrong fits right in with our mission.

Why me?

As I write this blog, my personal story may unfold from time to time. I am a parent of two children – a boy and a girl – one with special needs. How I wish I had had a blueprint to follow when my daughter was a toddler experiencing “developmental delays!” I was lost and frankly clueless. I took parenting classes, went to support groups and of course took my daughter to countless doctors. There was no Internet to “Google” a diagnosis or find support groups. Nevertheless, I muddled through, and amassed an enormous amount of information along the way. Now, I want to share my knowledge with you so that you can be an informed parent and educated advocate. As a Health Educator with a Master’s of Science degree and a parent of a special needs child, I hope to bring a perspective that provides a combination of “I get it – I’ve been there” with a factual blueprint for you to follow.

My kids are both in their 20’s now, and I have to say I would not trade in this journey for the world. My special needs baby girl is a recent college graduate (looking for her first job), and despite the fact that she may always experience more bumps in her road than the “typical kid,” she has done remarkably well. She also sends a message to all parents with kids with “issues” to focus on their children’s gifts and strengths, and in time, you will see that they will blossom to be the best they can be. Never say never!

So take a good look at this poster of a polio victim holding a photo of FDR. The hard-to-see caption reads “We polios can fill almost any job.” To me it speaks volumes. If an individual afflicted with polio could be our nation’s president for four terms, it is time to look beyond the disability and see the ability in everyone.

So, stay tuned for the upcoming series Delays and disabilities – how to get help for your child. It will appear every Wednesday for the next few months. We will love to hear your comments and input!

Tags: developmental delays, disabilities, early intervention, getting help, resources, special education, Special needs
Posted in Baby, Help for your child, Mommy, Uncategorized

 

T-shirt design contest and Youth Challenge

Kids in K though 12^th Grades – Design and submit your original artwork to our chapter’s Youth T-shirt Design Contest.  For information, rules and guidelines, visit www.modyouthchallenge.wordpress.com

 

To win the shirt, raise just $75 as part of your walksite’s Youth Challenge Team.  For more information, visit the website.

ShareUnion

In conjunction with the 2012 Volunteer Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida, we held the 8th annual ShareUnion. ShareUnion, a gathering of ShareYourStory (www.shareyourstory.org) members from around the U.S. and around the world, had nearly 60 attendees from 20 states, Canada, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic.

Staged by the March of Dimes volunteers who maintain the site and ensure that every new member is welcomed and every post is answered, ShareUnion is a unique family engagement event. Not only do participants learn tools to cope with loss, their child’s birth defect, prematurity, or special need, they also learn new and deeper ways to engage with the March of Dimes. Eleven members of the ShareYourStory volunteer leadership committee additionally attended the VLC to gain further knowledge of their important role within the Foundation.

Our keynote speaker, South Carolina NICU Family Support Specialist Hope Lienau shared her family’s story of heartbreak and love. She also spoke of her first contact with the March of Dimes NICU Family Support program, how she began as a mission volunteer and then became a NFS Specialist.

Please www.shareyourstory.org.

Flu is no joke

 In general, the flu is worse than the common cold. Symptoms such as fever, body aches, tiredness, and cough are more common and intense with the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose and a sore throat. Your health care provider can give you a test within the first few days of your illness to tell you if you have the flu or something else.

Children, pregnant women, the elderly and immune-compromised are at highest risk for severe, even life-threatening reactions. You’ve probably seen the numbers in the news. To date, the CDC has received reports of 18 deaths of children this season. Influenza activity continues to spread in the U.S. and most of the country is now experiencing high levels of influenza-like illness (ILI), according to CDC’s latest FluView report. The CDC continues to recommend influenza vaccination for people who have not yet been vaccinated this season and antiviral treatment as early as possible for people who get sick and are at high risk of flu complications.

The influenza vaccine is safe at any time during pregnancy. Almost all women who are or will be pregnant during flu season can get the shot. Getting the flu shot can help protect you from getting influenza and spreading it to others. Getting a flu shot during pregnancy is good for your baby, too. Babies born to women who get the vaccine during pregnancy are less likely to get sick with influenza. As newborns, they are not able to get the vaccine until the age of six months, all the more reason to have those around them vaccinated.

“While influenza vaccination offers the best protection we have against influenza, it’s still possible that some people may become ill despite being vaccinated,” says Dr. Joe Bresee of the CDC. “Health care providers and the public should remember that influenza antiviral medications are a second line of defense against influenza.”

Antiviral treatment (sold commercially as “Tamiflu®” and “Relenza®”) started as early as possible after becoming ill, is recommended for any patients with confirmed or suspected influenza who are hospitalized, seriously ill, or ill and at high risk of serious influenza-related complications. Treatment should begin as soon as influenza is suspected, regardless of vaccination status or rapid test results and should not be delayed for confirmatory testing.

Seek medical attention immediately if you experience any of the following:
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Purple or blue discoloration of the lips
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Seizures
• Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Tags: childhood illness, fever, flu, influenza, Pregnancy, vaccination, vaccine