As the 2011 March for Babies walk on May 1 nears, the Dunn family is busy recruiting walkers- and dollars- to support the March of Dimes in their mission to help all babies begin with healthy lives. Jeremy and Crissy Dunn, along with their 1-year-old twins, Lila and Thatcher, are the local ambassador family for this year's event, because they've experienced first-hand the lifesaving impact of March of Dimes research.
"On Jan. 5, 2010, we were 16 weeks 6 days along into the pregnancy when we became suspicious that my water had broken," says Crissy Dunn. "We went to our physician, Dr. Brad Chesney's office, and he was in surgery that morning so we were immediately referred to the maternal fetal specialists across town. That afternoon they confirmed that Lila's amniotic sac had indeed ruptured."
The Dunn's went home devastated with the possibility of losing one or both of their babies. Without amniotic fluid, lungs cannot develop properly.
"Dr. Chesney called me that evening and had such grace. He apologized that he had no medicine for me, he could only pray," says Crissy.
After a lot of prayer, encouragement, and 14 weeks of bed rest, Crissy's water broke fully on April 10, 2010 at 30 weeks and 3 days. She and Jeremy went to Middle Tennessee Medical Center where neonatologist Dr. Delinda Pearson prepared them for what to expect and shortly after, at 12:18 a.m. Lila Emery Dunn was born at 2.9lbs., followed by Thatcher Goodman Dunn at 12:21 a.m. weighing 3.9lbs.
The twins were placed on a ventilator in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at MTMC for three days, then moved to the nasal cannula where they stayed in the NICU for several weeks. Additional medical complications were resolved, and both babies continued to progress well.
"The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at MTMC, along with the March of Dimes, were wonderful throughout the almost 2-month period the twins were in the hospital. We hold many of the nurses and doctors who gave such sweet care to our little ones very close to our hearts. Ashley Davenport, often our NICU nurse, taught us much about being the new parents of preemies," says Crissy.
On May 29, 2010, just over two weeks before their original due date of June 16, the Dunn's were able to bring Lila and Thatcher home, and say they couldn't be more thrilled.
"God has given us much to be thankful for. The nurses, doctors and everyone we've encountered along the way have shown us that God's grace, combined with the capabilities of medicine, could bring to life our two healthy, beautiful children."
The Rutherford County March for Babies event, sponsored by Middle Tennessee Medical Center, is Sunday, May 1 on the Middle Tennessee Medical Center campus DePaul building. Registration and activities begin at 1 p.m. and the walk begins at 2 p.m. For more information visit www.marchforbabies.org.
MTMC Fundraising Events:
Burgers for Babies
April 7, 4-10 p.m.
Coach's Grill, 127 SE Broad St.
What: 15% of all food sales and all tips will benefit the March of Dimes. Door prizes and silent auction.
Golf for Babies
Golf Tournament
April 9, 8 a.m. shotgun start
Cedar Crest Golf Club,
7972 Mona Road, Murfreesboro
What: Best Ball Scramble.
$10,000 hole-in-one prize, $1,000 in other prizes. Goodie Bags.
Call 615-396-6713 to register. |
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