Our family was blessed with the arrival of Chase a little over two years ago, but he had a very rough start to life. Thanks to the support of organizations like the March of Dimes, my nephew Chase is doing well, getting big, and is ready to take part in this year's March for Babies (well, maybe not the whole 6.2 miles!). Below, my brother-in-law John Kelty talks about Chase and our family's reason to support the March of Dimes. Please consider visiting Chase's March for Babies website and making a donation to this worthy cause. It would be greatly appreciated by John, my sister Sarah, big brother Cameron, and of course, Chase, as well as the whole Kelty/Bisbee clan. Thanks!
Hello Friends,
Another year has passed; I hope this message finds you and your families doing well. Understanding that times are tough, I would just ask that you consider supporting me in the upcoming March for Babies sponsored by the March of Dimes. This year′s walk holds special meaning to me, as I will be able to bring my son Chase to the event and watch him walk with his older brother. Chase is a living testament to the role that this charity plays in funding research that saves lives!
My son was born very unexpectedly at 23 weeks old, weighing a mere 1lbs 4oz. He spent the first six months of his life in NICU, enduring countless surgeries and blood transfusions on top of being ventilated due to severely underdeveloped lungs. Even after being released from the hospital, he spent the next five months on oxygen.
When we walk on 4/26/09, Chase will be celebrating his 2 year anniversary of being released from the hospital. I am excited that he has been getting stronger each day and one day this will just be a story my wife and I tell about our miracle child and his overcoming extraordinary odds at birth to become a healthy young man.
There is nothing in life harder than having an extremely ill child. By supporting the March of Dimes you are helping to fund valuable research that may prevent another family from having to experience what we did. Again, I ask that you consider supporting me in this campaign to give children a healthy start to life.
My personal web page address for donations is:
http://www.marchforbabies.org/chasekennedy
John Kelty
