This week marks one year from that awful day on which we received our baby girl’s awful prognosis.  Dr. Fines’ exact words were, “I think we need to be prepared to lose this baby.”  I was crushed.  After calling John (who was in Costa Rica at the time) and stopping at Mejier to buy some pink sleepers, I took a nap.  Here’s an excerpt of how I described that afternoon on this blog:
 
“The thing about taking a nap is that life doesn’t really change while you’re asleep.  That whole “While You Were Sleeping” concept – not so much.  When I woke up that afternoon – and for the next several mornings – I experienced that moment that many people who go through some kind of tragedy often describe.  For about 30 seconds after I woke up, I thought everything was okay.  And then I remembered.  ‘I think we need to be prepared to lose this baby.’  Those next few days were some of the hardest of my life.”
 
Tonight, after countless perinatalogists visits, 121 days in the NICU, and 5 wonderful months at home together, our precious little Becca is sleeping in one of those pink sleepers, just down the hall from me.   
 
As you know, our family has been touched by the March of Dimes mission to prevent birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. That’s why we have formed Itty Bitty Becca’s Team to raise money and participate in March for Babies. Since you were a part of the team that cheered her through our darkest days, we want you to officially be part of Itty Bitty Becca’s Team!  There are two ways you can join: by walking with us on Sunday, April 19, or by sponsoring our event with a financial contribution.
Contributing to our team online is fast, easy and secure. You can donate directly from my personal webpage with a credit/debit card or PayPal. If you prefer, I can also accept cash or check. Just click the appropriate box on my webpage.  My March for Babies webpage is http://www.marchforbabies.org/BeccaHill .

Or, if you prefer and are able to do so, we would love to have you walk with us in the March for Babies!  We are participating in the Nashville walk on Sunday, April 19 at 2:00 at Cenntennial Park.  If the weather is good and the germs remain at bay, Litte Miss Becca will be “walking” with us, too!  (Of course, you can walk AND contribute, too!)  You can also sign up to walk with us on the website.

Our family knows firsthand the challenges associated with prematurity. It is important to find out why premature birth happens and what can be done to prevent it. By raising money, ongoing research to answer these critical questions is funded. When you support our Itty Bitty Becca’s Team, you show you care and you give hope for defeating premature birth and other threats to babies.  Becca is doing great now, but all you have to do is look back at her early days on the blog to see how close we came to losing our little girl, all because of still unexplained complications.  But every day, the folks at March of Dimes are getting us closer to an explanation – and to a better outcome for the rest of our children!

Please join us and millions of compassionate people across the country who support March for Babies each year. We need your help. Visit my webpage and sponsor our event or to sign up to walk with us!

With your support, there’s hope.  Thank You!

Love,
Nancy, John, and – of course – Itty Bitty Baby Becca
 
My personal Web page address for donations is…
http://www.marchforbabies.org/BeccaHill

p.s.  I know that money is tight right now, so if you can’t contribute, no worries!  Just say a prayer for our little girl, her fellow preemies, and the doctors, nurses, and researchers who are helping save their precious lives!

First Picture

The March of Dimes mission is to improve the health of babies by
preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.  Becca (in her very first picture above) is one of those babies.