MADDIE'S TEAM: A SIX-YEAR COMMITMENT TO THE MARCH OF DIMES

Sweet Maddie in the NICU

Ali Graham is the mother of Maddie and Team Captain of Maddie's Team. She is a veteran volunteer of the March of Dimes and was the Family Team Specialist for the MA Chapter in 2009 and 2010. The March of Dimes is very grateful for Ali and Maddie's Team, and for all that they do for the organization! This is Maddie's story:

It took every ounce of courage to hit “record” on our video camera the morning of Friday, March 11, 2005.  We did not have any assurance that our baby would make it through the c-section scheduled later that day; we had been given a 50% chance that our daughter would not survive.  We refused to believe our doctor’s hopeless prognosis and we trusted that God had a plan for our daughter.  It was a terrifying and painful exercise, but we hit “record” on the video camera and spoke to this little person, whom we had never met, but for whom we already had abundant love.  Through tears we began to speak, “Happy Birthday, Madelyn Grace, we love you very much….”  A few hours later, we delivered the tiniest human being we had ever seen – Madelyn was devastatingly small at 1 pound, 9.9 ounces and measured 13 inches long.  Maddie was robbed of 11 precious weeks in my womb and was forced to trade the quiet safety of my womb for the harsh, sterile, and relatively noisy environment of the NICU.

The events surrounding Madelyn’s birth caught us completely off-guard.  Our pregnancy had progressed without any complications until a 28-week ultrasound revealed any expecting parent’s worst nightmare – our sweet baby was in a life threatening situation.  Our tiny daughter was not growing, and the home she knew for almost 29 weeks was no longer sufficient.

Once she was delivered, Madelyn was whisked away by neonatologists; every right we possessed as new parents was stripped away.  Instead of chubby cheeks and happy homecomings, we saw our precious Madelyn with needles and tubes everywhere, hooked up to a monitor that tracked every breath and heartbeat.  We watched her go through countless procedures, blood transfusions, and a spinal tap when she was a mere 2 pounds.  We were not in charge – the prematurity was.  I was not able to hold my daughter for a week following her birth, and, even then, my husband and I traded off every-other-day.  I was not able to be with my daughter in private for 85 days. I had to trade the gift of breastfeeding for the cold, mechanical pump.  I had to sacrifice my schedule, my rights, and my time in order to be present with her at the hospital every day.  It was my joy and privilege to be at Madelyn’s bedside for most of her daily care times, but it was a grueling experience that no other mother should have to endure.

With an amazing NICU staff and the therapies developed by March of Dimes research, coupled with fervent prayers and God’s power, our daughter was equipped for the fight of her life.  Madelyn was tiny enough to fit her daddy’s wedding band up to her shoulder, yet she possessed all of the beauty and strength of the healthiest of babies.  After 85 long, scary days in the NICU, we brought our tiny wonder home to begin the life she was meant to enjoy.

The following spring, we gathered as a family to celebrate Maddie’s life, and to give back to the March of Dimes which was so instrumental in her survival. “Maddie’s Team” will participate in its 6^th March for Babies event this year, and we are proud to call the Worcester walk our home site.  Over the last 6 years we have been humbled to raise approximately $21,000 for the March of Dimes!  From fundraising events to home parties; from soliciting friends, family, and co-workers for donations using the online fundraising tool to asking for donations in lieu of birthday gifts; from raffling off restaurant gift cards to sending fliers to local businesses who give charitably; we have worked together as a team to celebrate Maddie’s life and give back to the Foundation who helped save it.  Psalm 135 says, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” and this is true of every baby – full term or premature.  It is for all babies that we march!

Maddie, Age 6