CHAUTAUQUA - March of Dimes officials hope that "one day ... all babies will be born healthy'' - a cause with which Amy Jaquith of Cassadaga can identify.
Mrs. Jaquith and her family were excited to learn of her pregnancy.
Numerous complications later, including a specialized surgery for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome that had to be done in Florida, she delivered Alexa and Isabella six weeks premature. After birth, the girls spent five days in the neonatal intensive care unit before being released.
"It's a great cause," said Mrs. Jaquith, who now sits on the committee that organizes the walk. "It helps people understand what happens when babies are born early.''
What the March of Dimes did for Amy and her family, she said, was bring "beautiful little girls" to her home who may not have otherwise been part of that family. She said the March of Dimes helped fund research that allowed the Florida doctors know how to perform the surgery she needed to save her twins.
"I have beautiful little girls today because of the March of Dimes," she said. Amy said those not as lucky need to know how to save their pregnancies, also. "Anybody who loves little children can see the positives of what the March of Dimes did''
Besides, she said, she has "a beautiful story" to prove the agency's worth.
The family is not alone.
According to information provided by the March of Dimes, premature birth affects more than half a million babies each year. The agency works to reduce that number by trying to find answers to problems that threaten babies' health. Money raised from the walk supports prenatal wellness programs, research grants, neonatal intensive care family support programs and advocacy efforts.
Until then, however, its supporters are walking to raise money to further that goal, and hope Chautauqua County residents will do so also.
The March of Dimes' annual March for Babies will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday at Chautauqua Institution. The nationwide event began in 1970 and has raised $1.8 billion to pay for research and programs to help mothers have full-term pregnancies, along with assisting babies.
Registration for Saturday's local walk at Chautauqua Institution begins at 9 a.m., with the two-mile walk starting at 10 a.m.
