A Tiny Miracle

Amanda Reeves of Greenville, S.C. was born 14 weeks early, and weighing just 1 lb., 7 oz. She was so tiny that her dad, Bill, could slip his wedding ring over her hand to her shoulder. Today, her mom, Michele, wears that ring as a constant reminder of the struggle that Amanda, and more than 460,000 babies born too soon each year, face just to survive.

In 2004, the five-year-old served as the National Ambassador for the March of Dimes. She traveled with her parents throughout the nation to raise public awareness of the need for Americans to come together to fight the rising tide of premature births.

Amanda survived several complications of prematurity thanks to treatments developed in part by March of Dimes-supported researchers.

She was treated with surfactant therapy for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Amanda also received indomethacin drug treatment to correct patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), a heart disorder previously treated through surgery. In addition, she suffered from bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) as a consequence of RDS and/or the necessary treatments. The March of Dimes currently is funding research into the causes of BPD and how it might be prevented.

If you would like to share your experience with preterm birth, visit the March of Dimes Share Your Story Web site, an online community for families who have had a premature baby or a baby in the NICU.