March of Dimes: On a mission for healthy babies

Bailey Marie Koch was born at 26 weeks old, weighing only 1 pound and 15 ounces.

"She fit in the palm of our hand," says her mother, Kate Koch.

Bailey was in a neonatal intensive care unit for 67 days, on oxygen until she was 3 1/2 months old and on an apnea monitor until she was 5 months old.

Today, Bailey is a happy, healthy 5-year-old, and Kate Koch gives thanks to the March of Dimes for its research to help save premature babies.

"She's still at a 5 percentile in weight and wears glasses due to astigmatism, but is developmentally right where she is supposed to be," says Koch. "[The March of Dimes] has developed synergistic shots to help with lung development and they also help every child by developing research for vaccines in general."

In 2011, the Kochs were chosen as the ambassador family for the local March of Dimes' annual Signature Chefs Auction fundraiser.

"It was really neat to be able to get up in front of everyone and share our story," says Koch. "People don't always understand the impact these babies have on their families and the people around them."

November is National Prematurity Awareness Month and the March of Dimes continues its work to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. Prematurity or low birth weight is the leading cause of death in the first month of life. In addition to mortality, prematurity is a major determinant of illness and disability among infants, including developmental delays, chronic respiratory problems and vision and hearing impairment. To address this growing problem, the March of Dimes has committed to a multi-year national prematurity research awareness education campaign.

Beth Simmons, division director of the Southeast Missouri March of Dimes, says the biggest thing the local March of Dimes chapters do is provide funding for research.

"We've given grants to area hospitals ... and provided education not only for moms-to-be, but we've [funded] seminars for doctors and nurses to continue their education," she says.

The Southeast Missouri division of the March of Dimes includes 19 counties, from Farmington on the north end to the Bootheel on the south end.

"We do two major fundraisers a year: The March for Babies in the spring and the Chefs Auction in the fall," Simmons says.

The March for Babies, a walking event, is held in Cape Girardeau, Farmington and Poplar Bluff each spring. The Signature Chefs Auction is held in the fall in Cape Girardeau; this year it will be Thursday, Nov. 6.

Bailey Koch was born at 26 weeks old. (Photo submitted by the March of Dimes)

Each March of Dimes fundraising event features an ambassador family that has been directly touched by the work and research efforts of the March of Dimes. The Balsman family has been chosen as this year's ambassador family.

"After two pre-term babies, we were hoping my third pregnancy would be different," writes Dawn Balsman. "We did everything possible to ensure a full-term pregnancy, including a healthy diet, excellent prenatal care, progesterone shots and steroids to help the baby's lungs, just in case he was early. At 29 weeks, my water broke and we were devastated because we knew that meant our baby would be coming into the world far too soon."

Balsman was hospitalized and monitored closely in hopes that the baby's lungs would have more time to develop. But one week later, she went into labor, and Andrew Jack Balsman was born at 7:42 p.m. on July 15, 2006. He was nine and a half weeks early and weighed 3 pounds and 6 ounces.

"We knew his lungs were a possible problem, so we prayed that we would hear a cry assuring us that his lungs were OK ... but there was no cry, not a sound," Balsman recalls. "Doctors gave A.J. a drug called surfactant to help develop his lungs. Developed by the March of Dimes, it is truly a miracle drug for preemies. We saw fast results and within a week, he was breathing on his own. A.J. faced other serious health issues, including a brain bleed called an intraventricular hemorrhage, which required brain surgery to install a shunt when he was just 22 days old. He would later have two more shunt-related brain surgeries."

A.J. had a rough start, but he is now shunt-free and has hit all major milestones in his young life. His mother describes him as a "smart, vibrant, dramatic 8-year-old boy showing virtually no signs of his previous [health issues]."

Laurel Adkisson, president of the board of directors for the Cape Girardeau chapter of the March of Dimes, has volunteered with the organization since 1992. She was touched by the first ambassador family she ever met, and over the years, the organization's mission has become more personal for her.

"I've had close friends experience premature births, and it is amazing to me to watch their children grow and develop and know that research done by the March of Dimes helped get their children through their first days, months and years," she says. "My great-nephew was born in January 2014 at 2 pounds 12 ounces. It really hit home. I got to hold him [recently] and he's a chunky monkey now!"

Simmons is proud of volunteers like Adkisson and their commitment to the mission of the March of Dimes.

"I'm really happy to be a part of Southeast Missouri," she says. "Our volunteers are wonderful and feel very passionate about the mission of healthy babies. We would love to add some new volunteers!"

For more information on the March of Dimes, contact Simmons at 573-651-6033 or visit www.marchofdimes.com.

March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction

When: 6:15 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6

Where: Ray's Banquet Center, Cape Girardeau

Cost: $50 per person or $400 for a table of eight

How it works: "Local chefs either join a team or create a team of their own," says volunteer Laurel Adkisson. "About two weeks out, the chefs are each given around three secret ingredients [that must be used in their creations]. You get an entree and two side dishes and you can vote with dollars for the top chef. There is also an auction, with packages put together by the local chefs."

This is the seventh year for the auction, which usually draws a crowd of more than 200. Tickets are $50 per person or $400 for a table of eight. For tickets, call 573-651-6033.