Walking for healthy babies

A simple stroll around Farmington is a step in the right direction to save babies’ lives.

The March of Dimes March for Babies will take place on April 23 in Farmington. Registration begins at 5 p.m. in Long Park, with the walk kicking-off at 6 p.m.

A goal of $48,000 has been set for the Farmington area event.

Money raised through the March for Babies enables the organization to continue its ongoing investment in research, education, and community programs that save babies’ lives and prevent birth defects and prematurity.

Eric and Lesli Krumm of Farmington are the parents of 1-year old Aidric and are this year’s Ambassador Family for the walk.

After Lesli began suffering from severe pre-eclampsia and HELLP Syndrome around her 21st week of pregnancy, doctors discovered Aidric was suffering from severe Inter Uterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) and there was no fluid left in the amniotic sac.

Aidric was delivered by emergency c-section at 25 weeks on March 30, 2014, weighing at 1 pound, 2 ounces and measuring 11 inches long.

At the time of his birth, his parents were told his chances of survival were less than 50 percent.

Lesli said Aidric was given a dose of surfactant to help him breathe – a lifesaving medicine developed by the March of Dimes and would later require additional doses.

He would suffer from pulmonary embolism and pneumothorax at two days old and again at two weeks old, spend 69 days on ventilators, multiple doses of steroids to strengthen his lungs, battle multiple infections and numerous blood and platelet transfusions during his time in the neonatal ICU.

Lesli said she was not able to hold him until he was 20 days old, sharing he was “physically breakable.”

On Aug. 8, 2014 – one month past his original due date – his parents were able to bring him home.

On Tuesday, he was a typical baby – squirming in his dad’s arms and looking around the room while bopping his feet on the table as Eric lifted him up.

Lesli said it is because of the March of Dimes – and the medicine their son was given to help him breathe – that makes them proud to serve as the ambassador family for the walk.

“The research done because of the support of the March of Dimes definitely saved him. To put a face to what we are raising for – the more money we raise, the more research can be done,” she said.

Lesli said they don’t have a “true reason” as to why Aidric developed the complications.

“With the research, hopefully we can prevent that in the future,” she said.

Eric said supporting the March of Dimes can help families “have the kind of luck we had.”

“We’ve been extremely lucky,” Lesli added. “Being the ambassador family shows there is light at the end of the tunnel and you can have a happy, healthy baby.”

Division Director Beth Simmons said 47 teams have signed up so far for the walk, a number up from previous years.

In addition to a rise in the number of teams, the goal for this year is up due to the 2014 walk raising almost $46,000 last year – about $4,000 more than the goal.

“While $48,000 is a big goal to reach…..just five years ago this event was only raising about $26,000,” Simmons said. “I feel confident that we can do it. We have many great teams that help us every year.”

Top teams for 2014 raised almost $25,000 last year. The top family teams were Mom-A-Thon in first place, Team Ryker Thompson in second place and Peace, Love and Saydi in third place.

The top corporate teams included Ozarks Federal Savings and Loan in first place, Parkland Health Center in second place and Mineral Area Regional Medical Center in third place.

Chairpersons for this year’s event include Devan Stokes and Tiffany Thompson.

Teams can register online at www.marchforbabies.org. For more information, call the March of Dimes at 573-651-6033 or email Simmons, division director for the southeast division, at esimmons@marchofdimes.org.

The Krumm family – Eric, Lesli and son, Aidric – are the Farmington ambassador family for the March of Dimes March for Babies, scheduled for 6 p.m. on April 23 at Long Memorial Park in Farmington. Aidric was delivered more than three months before his due date and spent nearly five months in the hospital. Today, at the age of one, Aidric is meeting all his milestones – something his parents credit to the lifesaving research of the March of Dimes.

Shawnna Robinson is the managing editor for the Farmington Press and can be reached at 573-756-8927 or srobinson@farmingtonpressonline.com