MARCH OF DIMES - WEST METRO MARCH FOR BABIES - APRIL 24TH
Paulding's Ambassador Family - Jason, Melissa and Noah Felker
During pregnancy checkups, everything was normal. Then at 23 weeks, Melissa Felker went into labor. The labor was stopped and the contractions were slowed down. For 11 days, Melissa and her husband Jason, hoped their baby wouldn’t come just yet.
When the Felker’s learned the risks of severe pre-maturity, they were scared and worried about their baby and his outcome if he did survive. Melissa felt at fault for the preterm labor and that she had worked too hard during pregnancy. Melissa’s due date was April 18, 2009, but Noah David Felker was born January 3, 2009 at only 1lb 9oz and 12 ½ inches long.
After Noah was born, the Felker’s were incredibly concerned about him and his future, yet they were hopeful he would be ok. After 18 long days, they were finally able to hold their son, Noah, for the first time. Though he was still on the ventilator, and weighed only 1lb and 13 oz., the Felker’s felt joy and nervous, but beyond excited to have a son.
Noah was a very sick baby and spent the first 5 months of life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Kennestone Hospital. He had some complications and issues with hearing and vision as well as lung problems. At 2 ½ months, he had laser eye surgery at Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital. Among the long list of complications, Noah suffered from respiratory distress syndrome, persistent pulmonary hypertension, retinopathy of prematurity, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia, just to name a few. In his first 5 months of life, he had 12 blood transfusions, received surfactant therapy and had an IVH grade III brain bleed followed by swelling of the brain.
The NICU staff at Kennestone Hospital was great at helping the Felker’s every step of the way. “I feel the doctors and nurses truly helped save Noah’s life and also by God’s grace,” Melissa has said. The NICU had the equipment they needed to do the job. Noah still suffers from some complications, but today he is a vibrant 14 month old who loves music, story time and playing in his swing.
The Felker’s are honored to be Paulding County’s 2010 Ambassador Family for the West Metro March for Babies. Jason, Melissa and Noah live in Dallas.
Please join the Felker family at the West Metro March for Babies on April 24th, 2010 at Marietta Middle School. The 3.5 mile March begins at 10:00am with registration at 8:30am. It is a family event, all ages welcome! March for Babies is the March of Dime’s signature fundraising event.
Sign up today at www.marchforbabies.org
The March of Dime’s mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. The mission is carried out through research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies' lives. March of Dimes researchers, volunteers, educators, outreach workers and advocates work together to give all babies a fighting chance against the threats to their health: pre-maturity, birth defects, low birth weight.