JONESVILLE, Va. When Amy and Brandon Bradford of Coeburn discovered they were going to have a baby they were overjoyed. Toward the end of the second trimester, however, Amy developed complications and was sent to the Johnson City Medical Center in Tennessee, where Brayden was born four months early.

Brayden weighed just 1 pound and 12 ounces and was 13.25 inches long. He was on a ventilator to breathe for him for three weeks while he was in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and had surgery to close an opening in his heart at 18 days old. Brayden remained in the NICU for another two months while his mother and father stayed at the Ronald McDonald House to be with him until he was able to come home with them.

When babies are born this early and this small the outcome can be bleak. However, the March of Dimes has been working hard for many years to help babies like Brayden.

At birth Brayden was given the drug Surfactant developed by funding from the March of Dimes. This drug helped his lungs to develop and his doctor, nurses and other professionals were helped to serve him better through March of Dimes research and training. 

Today Brayden is thriving weighing 20.5 pounds, 30 inches long and his doctor says he is doing just fine. He no longer needs any special medicine or care and Brayden just enjoyed his first birthday party recently. He spends his days playing with his toys and enjoying watching everything going on around him especially his cat, Simba and turtle, Spike. His is a blessing and a joy to his parents, grandparents, extended family members and friends. 

Brayden is this year’s Good Will ambassador for the 2009 LENOWISCO March For Babies to be held at Bullitt Park in Big Stone Gap, Va., on October 3 at 10 a.m.

With the economy as it is many organizations are in real need and are asking for your help.

“Though they are all worthy, I implore you to consider being a part of this walk. All babies are helped by the March of Dimes from birth and the benefit of what we do now will go with them throughout their lifetime. For them that life will be longer and better because of the March of Dimes,” said March of Dimes volunteer Lisa Dotson

For information on forming a walk team, to walk as an individual, or contribute please contact Dotson at 1-276-523-1713 or Karen Davis at 1-276-431-4370.