March for Babies

Alora Sionn

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Many of you may know that my husband Lok and I were overjoyed to find out we would be welcoming our child into the world at the end of the year. At 17 weeks along my water broke and it was recommended to me to induce labor immediately, though at such an early gestation there would be no chance of survival. I was also told that labor would start on its own by 18 weeks but that the longer I delayed the greater the chance of infection. We hung in there for 6 weeks after that, and would have gone longer but my sweet baby's heartrate started going down and at a little more than 23 weeks it was safer for him outside the womb than in.

On July 12th this year my beautiful son David was born kicking and punching via emergency c section and though he was only 13.8oz (390g), the amazing NICU team was able to get him stable. He had defied the odds and was doing well but the next morning he took a turn for the worse... our dear boy passed away in our arms.

It's been really hard in the Sionn household these past 5 weeks. We've been trying to find ways to do some good and make our boy proud of his parents and so we've made a team for March for Babies.

The March of Dimes provides informational resources for many different prenatal and postnatal conditions, funds care for pregnant women in areas that are subpar in medical resources, and funds research into preventing infant and maternal deaths.

There's still so much science and medicine don't know about pregnancy development. It's an unspoken fact that this happens far more often than we know. I thought after 12weeks the danger was mostly over, I had no idea something like this could happen and the Drs don't know why it did. I'm hoping one day a woman in my position won't have to plan a funeral instead of a baby shower.

I started a team for my local March for babies to help fund research that hopefully will help other preemies survive. We named our son David, we decided on this name during the 6 weeks he fought to live after my water broke because even though he was small and the odds against him great, he still fought. The link for the team is here. Please consider donating or if you are in the DC metro area, consider joining us on Oct 5th in Winchester VA.
 

Polegnyn Nemeara

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**just hugs**

I’d also like to update my Charity Miles charity in memory of David. However, March of Dimes isn’t listed. What other charity do you (or anyone) recommend that would provide the same or similar research?
 

Catt Heckathorne

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What about finding out if your local neonatal unit is listed as a charity, or St. Judes or the Ronald McDonald House?
 

Alora Sionn

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I do like St Judes too :hug

And if there are knitters here I'm collecting hats to donate to the NICU with tags saying a gift from David. It needs to be a very soft baby yarn that can be washed at a high temp, lion brand is one of them. Also look up the octo project, it's a very nice project.
 

Morrighan Daghdera

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I am truly sorry for your loss. :hug
 

Nymala Ingasy

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Alora Sionn

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Thank you :hug I wouldn't want two teams running at the same time so maybe we can do a virtual run for Feast of Lights if that's ok with the next director.
Elia the hats will need to be preemie sized if they have patterns for that somewhere, it's appreciated :hug I'm learning how to knit too but it's a brand new thing for me so tips welcome.
Even if you can't make it to the walk in Oct, I'm giving out 3 shirts at random to people who donate as a thank you, it will be the hero shirts with the team name and icon on the back.
 

Alenya Al'Roran

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Alora, in some ways, crochet is a little easier if you're having trouble with knitting. My knitting is awful, but I can crochet like it's cool. I'll try to crank out some preemie hats. I've got a whole bunch of super soft baby yarn.
 

Polegnyn Nemeara

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Let me know if you want knitting tips, though. Professor YouTube was an incredible teacher, and I can pass along potentially helpful links. Video chat is always an option if you’re comfortable with that. Also yarn shops in your area may have staff willing to help.
 

Jocasta Braithe

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I'm so sorry, Alora and Lok. :hugI am a NICU mom and have been involved in some March of Dimes charities in the past as well. I'll be happy to donate. The research is so important and saves lives. I wish you as much peace and healing as you can find. I know you barely know me, but NICU parents are family. Let me know if I can help at all.
 

Alora Sionn

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I would like tips knitting with needles, I'm not doing bad with making a hat on a circular loom. Thank you
I'm so sorry, Alora and Lok. :hugI am a NICU mom and have been involved in some March of Dimes charities in the past as well. I'll be happy to donate. The research is so important and saves lives. I wish you as much peace and healing as you can find. I know you barely know me, but NICU parents are family. Let me know if I can help at all.
Thanks for the donation and :hug thanks for still referring to us as parents. It's really hard because I spent so much time this year, ever since we found out I was pregnant, thinking of him and dreaming of our future together and now I'm a mom but without a living child to care for so it's just really hard.
 

Jocasta Braithe

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You’ve been on my mind a lot today. :hug
 

Cirella Ithan

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I am so sorry for you loss.

I am a NICU-parent also and the line between hope and despair is so thin. I am so, so sorry. You are in my thoughts.

:grouphug
 

Alora Sionn

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Alenya Al'Roran

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I just wanted to make sure you got it. No need to apologize. The moms wanted to make sure they had you taken care of.
 
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