The old writer continued to plumb his files. Here’s a public service piece from 1993. Almost makes me want to donate.
Think health care debate.- JDW
In every child who is born, under no matter what circumstances, and of no matter what parents, the potentiality of the human race is born again; and in him, too, once more, our terrific responsibility towards human life. – James Agee
For more than fifty years, the March of Dimes has worked unceasingly to improve the health of America’s children. Today, the mission of the March of Dimes is simply this: PREVENT BIRTH DEFECTS AND INFANT MORTALITY. Every day, babies are saved by the treatments and the facilities made possible by the March of Dimes.
Every day, for over half a century, the March of Dimes has demonstrated its terrific responsibility towards the lives of our children.
They are very proud of their record. And the last to rest on their own laurels.
Every day, in these grand old United States of America of ours, hundreds of babies die at birth. Many are born with AIDS, addicted to drugs, often tobacco and alcohol. Many are born with birth defects.
Too many babies are being born too soon. Too many babies enter this world too small. Too many babies with “too” strikes against them. Too often, too.
Every day.
In Oregon, one out of every twenty babies is born with low birthweight. That is, weighing 5.5 pounds or less. Smaller than a notebook computer, these tiny infants are forty times more likely to die before their first birthday party.
Studies have shown the most effective way to prevent low birthweight is through early – and regular – prenatal care. Yet 25% of all pregnant Oregonians, even more in Washington, do not receive important early prenatal care. Either such care is unavailable, prohibitively expensive, difficult to get to, or some combination thereof.
Many of these mothers-to-be are without proper medical insurance coverage.
Many of these women are uneducated about the importance of early prenatal care. Often, they choose to wait until further along in their pregnancy to see a doctor.
Late is not great. Early is best.
Pregnant women must receive the care they need and their babies must be born healthy. That’s the commitment at the March of Dimes and that’s why the March of Dimes remains the leader in the fight against birth defects and infant mortality.
THE CAMPAIGN FOR HEALTHIER BABIES is a community-by-community effort to make our world a safer place to enter. Thousands and thousands of dollars in grant money has gone to wide variety of local service programs.
In Clark County, for example, the Evergreen School District provides prenatal nursing services for pregnant teenagers at the local high school.
In Multnomah county, Emanuel Hospital and Health Center provides early intervention for substance-abusing prenatal clients.
In Hood River County, La Clinica del Carino provides affordable, quality health care to migrant workers and their families.
Case management services will continue in Marion and Polk counties for non-medicaid eligible, low-income pregnant women.
Thanks to dedicated volunteers and community-spirited groups, service programs are helping moms get the proper care they need. Research is solving the puzzles behind birth defects. Educational programs are teaching people how to have a healthy baby. And advocacy is ensuring our federal, state and local governments continue to support programs that benefit mothers and babies.
The March of Dimes has joined community leaders, professional groups, businesses and civic organizations in the battle for healthier babies. Through individual contributions and events like the Northwest Open, The March of Dimes will continue to fight the good fight. For those too little to fight alone.
For Miss Molly McClendon, 1993 March of Dimes Ambassador.
Nearly 7-years-old now, Molly McClendon weighed only 17 ounces at birth. Nine inches long, born ten weeks prematurely, Molly had a heavyweight’s heart, but she needed plenty of help. The kind of help the March of Dimes makes possible.
Every day.
Molly had all the problems associated with a preemie, including respiratory stress syndrome because her lungs were not fully developed. Molly spent five months in intensive care and two more months in a hospital crib. Too many months.
Once home, Molly required nursing care for a year. She was on portable oxygen until she was almost three. That’s when her lungs finally fully developed.
Something else. Molly was born with only one hip. A plate was eventually implanted, and Molly was walking before she was four.
Today, Molly’s a bright, active girl who takes ballet lessons and is particularly fond of gym and recess at school.
Where she’s hard to catch.
Thanks to the March of Dimes.