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Annual 'March for Babies' Honors 'Preemies' Saturday in Springfield

http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/annual-march-babies-honors-preemies-saturday-springfield_12874.mp3

Susan Taube still had eight weeks to go before her due date when her water broke, and doctors couldn’t stop her from going into labor. Her twin boys were delivered by emergency Caesarian Section. Now, she's spreading the word about an organization that helps tiny babies like hers. KSMU's Jennifer Moore has details.

“They both were rushed to the NICU because they were so early. They were both three pounds when they were born,” she says.

The NICU – or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit – is home to the tiniest human beings: “preemies,” many of whom are fighting for their lives. Taube and her husband, Daniel, are the Ambassador Family for this year’s “March for Babies,” sponsored by the March of Dimes. The walk is tomorrow. The March of Dimes funds cutting-edge research that has been credited with saving tens of thousands of premature babies.

Susan Taube said she’s grateful to the March of Dimes, and that’s why she agreed to be an ambassador for the organization.

“Now, I have two thriving two and a half-year-olds. And Zack is above scores on his developmental skills; some of his skills are at the four-year-old range. Sam is at or above all of his developmental skills. At height, they’re both about in the 75th percentile for height. So, that’s pretty amazing, considering they were so tiny when they came home,” she said.

The annual “Walk for Babies” starts tomorrow at Jordan Valley Park at 11:00 a.m. Registration starts at 10:00. It’s about a mile long. Organizers say there will also be a stroller decorating contest, and several raffle items.

For KSMU News, I’m Jennifer Moore.