Tomorrow team March for Maddie will be participating in the March for Babies for the sixth year in a row – our fifth walk without her.
The march is something that’s very important to our family, to both remember and honor Maddie, and to help other families going through the same thing we experienced more than five and a half years ago when we learned there were complications with Madeline’s pregnancy.
The March of Dimes has funded research that’s lead to countless strides in the fight against prematurity. They won’t stop until every child is born healthy. We won’t stop, either.
Like in previous years, I am again posting my speech from the 2009 March for Babies. Maddie passed away barely three weeks prior to the walk. I still can’t watch this footage. I don’t remember writing the speech and I barely remember giving it. But I hope all of you can take a few minutes to watch it, maybe for the first time, or maybe for the fifth, and remember all the babies out there that are gone too soon because they were born too soon.
if you’d like to donate, you can click on the sponsor me button in my sidebar. If you want information about how to donate time, or join a walk, go to www.marchforbabies.org. You can also register for our team and walk in spirit (it’s free to join). And if you want to spread the word, please pass along this post. Use your voice for the babies who cannot.
Jenn says:
I cried when I heard it 5 yrs. and I cried when I heard it again today. The thing that ALWAYS gets me is not your words although they were very thoughtful and honest but the rawness and the sorrow of a woman who just lost her baby. The hurt in your voice…your expression…your eyes….soul…it just…kills me.
As a woman who went through the stress of having a Massive scare my son would be born at 27 wks. 4 days…I can tell you how grateful we were for even knowing the March of Dime would have been there to support us and especially HIM.
We were one of the lucky ones though as our baby was born right at 36 weeks….I just wish more than anything your Maddie and all babies were and are just as lucky as we were too.(((HUGS)))
Susie says:
I’m walking in our local March of Dimes walk on Sunday in memory of my good friend’s 9 month-old son who was born 7 weeks early. Watching your speech reaffirms for me exactly why I’m walking; thanks to the March of Dimes, my friend’s little boy was able to come home from the NICU after 3 1/2 weeks, and he grew into a healthy, happy little boy.
Thank you for sharing your story! I’ll be thinking of you tomorrow as you walk in honor of Madeline!
AmyG says:
I’ve watched this every year since you’ve posted & I cry every time. Maddie will forever be remembered.
Christina Bathan says:
I had heard of the March of Dimes, here and their, and with my first 3 Pregnancies,I really didnt give them a second thought, I’m just being honest here. When I became pregnant with my 4th, I was scared, because less then a year earlier, I had, had Gastric bypass (My stomached stapled) and my Dr was not exactly excited with the news, but he agreed to work with my Ob/Gyn, as they had not had to really deal with the whole RNY and pregnancy before….. At 24 weeks my water broke, I never had to deal with the NICU, preemie, and all that came along with it…. I was admitted, taken from Kaiser in Panorama City to Woodland Hills, I was scared of the unknown, and a co-worker of my husband, and his wife came to visit, they brought him dinner, and his wife sat with me and let me ask questions, her daughter was born at 30 weeks… and she brought me a folder filled with all kinds of March of Dimes information……I was able to keep my son baking an additional 3 weeks, he was born at 27 weeks exactly, 3lbs,5oz. and I was so scared, but not as scared as I would have been with out some information…… My son is now 8, He is perfectly healthy, but was recently Dx as autistic, but is high functioning. and he goes out and raises money for our walk, two years ago, he raised $300 and last year he was $22 short of $500, we now march with my sister, our tiny team of 6, is called “Little Hearts, Big love” We march in Honor of my Son, and my Nephew who was also born at 27 weeks, and in loving Memory of My Nephews twin Brother (he was t2t transfusion) and I also had Placed a Purple ‘M’, But in all Honesty, I was in complete and total AWE of the Sea of Purple we saw…… I also knit and Embroider , and I donate 25% of all profits to them.
Lindsay says:
I watch this every year and the tears flow without me even consciously realizing that they’re coming. It is difficult even to bear witness to the agony in your voice, and so I cry that you and Mike had (and have to) actually live it. It’s still so desperately wrong and unfair.
I hope you have a gorgeous day for the walk and a sea of purple in your crowd.
Lisa says:
Every year when I watch this video it crushes my heart. I will be with you guys in spirit tomorrow as you march for Maddie and all babies born too soon. Much love and many hugs to all of you.
Carol says:
Wow. I don’t know how you were able to write or deliver that speech but how powerful and loving it is. I read your blog regularly so feel like I know you all. How wonderful it is that you are able to help a great organization like the March of Dimes to help other babies. And what a tribute to your Maddie. I sobbed through the whole thing.
Terra says:
Fifth time watching this, fifth time crying. Crying for who Maddie would be today, and hugging my preemie who spent 27 days in the nicu and will soon celebrate his 14th birthday. Hugs to you and Mike.
Jelena says:
Hugs to you both. Good luck tomorrow. I watch the video every year and it makes me cry.
Sharen M says:
You both are amazing, simply amazing.
Melissa says:
Heather,
I am a friend of one of your friends, and I have followed your blog religiously since Maddie was a baby. I struggled through hard pregnancies and multiple miscarriages, but was fortunate enough to have both my sons make it to 37 weeks. March of Dimes has been something we have walked religiously in since my oldest son was born almost 5 years ago, and the first year we walked (2009), we included Maddie’s name on our shirts we custom made.
My nephew Blake was born under very similar circumstances that Maddie was, when my sister in law’s water ruptured at 23 weeks. They were able to keep him in only until 24 weeks, 1 day, when he was born last August 15th at 1 lb, 8 oz. Watching your video again this evening made all of those sounds and the rawness and pain of that situation vivid again for me, as we watched along for many months as our sweet Blake Matthew fought desperately to survive. Through a ruptured bowel, stomach surgery, pneumonia, meningitis and many other ailments in the NICU. But after over 4 months in the NICU, our sweet Blake came home right befor Christmas. A few weeks after coming home, he was then diagnosed with hydocephalus, resulting in fluid on the brain and requiring brain surgery just 3 weeks after being out of the hospital. But he fought and fought and survived. He is now a very tiny but hearty and healthy 8+ month old, and we will walk in celebration of his life tomorrow in San Diego.
http://babyboyjaycox.blogspot.com/
I am sharing this story with you just because I want you to know that you have been a constant and an inspiration to me throughout my years as a mother, and to my entire family this past 8+ months since Blake’s birth. We will honor and celebrate Maddie’s memory as well tomorrow, and know that your sweet, beautiful curly haired angel will always be in my heart and held as a treasure of the sweet, amazing miracle and gift of life, living every day to its fullest.
I wish you the best in your upcoming new arrival, as the mother of two boys (4 /12 and 1 1/2 years of age), I will tell you to be prepared for insanity! Boys are definitely a different experience! But amazing!
Sending tons of love and hugs to you, Mike and Annie on what I know will be a very hard, yet inspirational walk tomorrow. And know Maddie is being honored down here in San Diego as well.
Melissa Lopez
amourningmom says:
We will be marching this weekend too. It is our 7th walk. We will remember Maddie along with our sons Jake and Sawyer.
Thank you for sharing the video again. Thinking of you, Mike, Maddie, Annie and the Acrobat. Sending hope and hugs.
Allison Zapata says:
no words. just lots of love to the guys. xoxoxo
Mommy says:
Your way with words, written and spoken, is unreal. You are so brave, and the strength, grace and compassion that you have shown through these last 4 years is truly inspiring. Maddie and Annie and the little Acrobat are so lucky to have a mommy like you. You are amazing. Really.
It was an honor to march for Maddie today. Sending your family love, today and always.
Auntie_M says:
This video never fails to make me weep…especially seeing you & Mike standing there “stoically” (or, most likely, in shock) as I can hear those around the camera crying with you for your beautiful baby girl.
I know you “rode” for Maddie this year(NOTHING can stop a mama’s love & determination). My thoughts were with you & I marched in spirit wearing purple for your girl.
xoxo
Auntie_M says:
This video never fails to make me weep…especially seeing you & Mike standing there “stoically” (or, most likely, in shock) as I can hear those around the camera crying with you for your beautiful baby girl.
I know you “rode” for Maddie this year(NOTHING can stop a mama’s love & determination). My thoughts were with you & I marched in spirit wearing purple for your girl.
Trisha says:
I cry everytime I watch this. Always marching in spirit from Orlando.
Amy says:
Every year your words bring tears to my eyes. Maddie inspired so many and continues to bring out the best in us all.