Prematurity Awareness Day

November 12 was Prematurity Awareness Day! This is the day the March of Dimes released the report card on prematurity.... the nation scored a "D" in regards to the national rate of premature birth. Kansas scored an unexceptable D and scored an embarassing F.

We heard from Dr. Howard Kilbride from Children's MercyDr. John Yeast from St. Luke's Hospital Brian Williams, dad of cutie-pie Savanna Williams, shared his experience about the premature birth of his beautiful daughter, Savanna and how the March of Dimes and the NICU family support program aided them along the way.

As Brian was speaking, Savanna sat with her mom, Nicci, and worked the crowd... it was so inspiring to hear about Savanna's birth circumstances, her struggles - then to see this cutie walking around and being generally adorable. Lisa Butterfield from KU med spoke last then Dr. Howard Kilbride fielded questions. There were also several other mother and child health resources there.

It was a great day - and brought light to an important local and national health problem. Please join the March of Dimes in signing the prematurity petition and telling our government that we care about babies born too soon!

Books-a-million event was Legendary!

November is prematurity awareness month.

That's right - all month! One in EIGHT children (12-13%) of children are born prematurely each year. In Kansas (and those of you on the Missouri side...) those stats hold true. For every seven babies born full-term, one is born before 37 completed weeks gestation. Not only do these children face higher levels of infant mortality but the ones who do make it, many face life-long health concerns or disabilities.

Please join me in signing the Prematurity Petition to help to alert others of this national crsis. Also, please check out and pass on the March of Dimes' prematurity site.

If your family has been touched by prematurity, I encourage you to tell at least one person about it this month. Also - remember that The Legends is promoting the March of Dimes and Prematurity Awareness Month in November. Please join us November 6th at Books-a-Million from 10 a.m. to noon if you are available!

Hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween.

Kara

Be there or be square

We are having a "family day" at Books-a-Million at The Legends at Village West on Thursday, November 6th from 10 a.m. -11 a.m. to kick off Prematurity Awareness Month. We will have face painting, crafts, stories - it is sure to be a fun time! Please join us if possible, it will be great to see anyone who can make it. The administration at The Legends has expressed that they don't often have much turn out at these events - let's show them how March of Dimes families can band together! Please come if you can and invite your friends and family if they are around. If you are working but Grandma and Grandpa want to bring the kids, that's great. If you're not able to come by your neighbor or friend might think it is fun, that's great, too, please let them know about it! Radio Disney will also be there! Please RSVP to Kara if you are planning on coming so we can have enough craft supplies for the kids.

For the month of November, The Legends will also be displaying March of Dimes prematurity public service announcements on several of their kiosks throughout the complex. If you're out and about, drop by and do your shopping at The Legends and see the cool PSAs!

Save the dates!

As you may or may not know, November is Prematurity Awareness Month and we have a lot of exciting events coming up!

I will post more details as they become available but please mark your calendars for Thursday, November 6th from 10-11 a.m. for an event at The Legends at Village West. This will be a fun, kid-friendly event with entertainment and crafts - look for details to come.

Also - Prematurity Awareness Day is Wednesday, November 12th. We are planning an event at Children's Mercy Hospital where we will announce the national prematurity report card and launch phase 2 of the prematurity campaign. There will be several organizations represented who are working to lower the rate of premature birth in our community and we are hoping it will receive much media coverage. Please plan on attending if possible, details to follow.

Thank you all so much for your continued support. Please, as always, let me know if there is anything I can do for you!

Kara