Upcoming event
March for Babies - Kauai 2017
F
Kauai 2017 Ambassador Families
or the 2017 Kauai March for Babies we are honored to have two Ambassador families. Why two families? These two families became one Ohana during a very difficult time when two boys – both born premature, just weeks apart – and their moms, Natassja and Christine, became support for one another during their stay at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children. The March of Dimes has a NICU Family Support Program Coordinator and very active volunteers to help the families whose babies are being cared for in the NICU. Many of those families are from the neighbor islands, like Kauai, and are away from the close ohana here at home. Creating a “home away from home” is essential not only for the survival of the newborn, but also for the emotional well-being of the moms and dads. It is common for parents of premature babies to worry about the baby, about kids at home, keeping the bills paid, and flying back and forth to Oahu. Each family has a unique story, but also one that is too familiar for too
PHOTO BY JENNFER GARCIA
PHOTO BY CHRISTINE MORALES
Keanu Strickland
Silas Limbaugh
many babies. It is through the common experience that bonds are formed with other families, the March of Dimes NICU Family Support Program Coordinator, volunteers, doctors, nurses, and of course that of parents and their newborns. Natassja Strickland was excited of course to be pregnant with her 3rd child. However, complications set in with high blood pressure, pre-
eclampsia, and she was transferred to Kapiolani on January 20, 2015. The due date for this baby was May 12. Arriving at Kapiolani on Oahu, Natassja worried about her family here on Kauai. “My girls. Do they think I’ve deserted them? My husband. Can he do this alone? I’m going to miss them. Their hugs, their touch. The evSEE FAMILIES, PAGE 4
Date: Saturday, April 8, 2017 Times: 6:45 a.m.: Registration 7:30 a.m.: Opening Ceremonies & warm-up 8:00 a.m.: 1.5 Mile walk through Lydgate Park 8:30 a.m.: Entertainment, breakfast, keiki carnival, a petting zoo, games and prizes Where: Lydgate Park main pavilion How: Register online at www.marchforbabies.org. For more information, contact Juno Apalla at 634-5840 or japalla@marchofdimes.org. We’re getting ready to walk in March for Babies! It promises to be a fun morning out with people who share our passion for improving the health of babies. Join family teams, company teams and people walking with friends for a great cause: making a difference for real families right here in our community. Sign up and raise money to help more moms have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies.
Our mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.
Give every baby a fighting chance! Support March of Dimes in their fight against birth defects, premature births, and infant mortality Purchase select Aloha Gourmet Snacks, World’s Finest Chocolates and Old Trapper Teriyaki Beef Sticks at any Longs Drugs Store. Longs will donate the proceeds to the March of Dimes! A Limited Edition March of Dimes Teddy Bear is available for purchase at any Longs Drugs store. Quantities are limited. While supplies last.
marchofdimes.org/hawaii/
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