Why I’m going to March for Babies

March for Babies, March of Dimes, Phoenix, Arizona
The writer with her daughters, Charli (left) and Elliot. Photo courtesy of Samantha Ferguson.

In 2003, I found out I was pregnant. My baby was due in early September 2004. My husband and I were ecstatic! The first few weeks of pregnancy went well. I didn’t experience much morning sickness and I felt so blessed to be growing our little peanut.

At 20 weeks we found out our baby was going to be a boy. The name wars began. Was it going to be Logan? How about John? We were happy and healthy; things couldn’t have been better.

One evening at the beginning of my 22nd week, I started bleeding. I was rushed to the hospital and was diagnosed with an incompetent cervix. My cervix was weak under the pressure of the baby and I had begun to dilate without knowing it.

I was admitted and given medications to relax my body. We tried everything to keep our little boy in utero for at least two to three more weeks. Unfortunately, my water broke and I progressed into full labor. I delivered my baby boy, Logan, on May 9, 2004. It was Mother’s Day. I was only 23 weeks pregnant.

Logan lived for one hour. He was just too little. While I have since been blessed to have two beautiful daughters, I will never forget the time Logan and I shared, no matter how brief.

Through my employer, Cigna Medical Group, I have the opportunity to participate in the March of Dimes March for Babies fundraising walk. For the past 22 years, Cigna has been a March of Dimes partner and a national sponsor of March for Babies.

I am walking to raise funds to give premature babies a chance to survive, to help grieving families who have lost their precious babies and to raise awareness of preterm birth and incompetent cervix. (You don’t know you have it until something like this happens).

But most importantly, I will raise funds for my son, Logan.

March for Babies: What you need to know

  • Date: Saturday, April 9
  • Time: 7am check-in, 8am walk
  • Location: Wesley Bolin Plaza, 1700 W Washington St in Phoenix
  • Walk distance: 2.5 miles
  • More information: marchforbabies.org