03.19.09

March for Babies

Posted in Kim, Lance, Logan at 1:27 pm by lance

Through Logan, Kim and I learned what an amazing organization the March of Dimes really is.

The March of Dimes is having its annual March for Babies event across the country.

There are two ways you can help: join our team and walk with us OR sponsor me and I’ll walk for you.

Please join our March for Babies Family Team ‘Logan… Forever Loved‘.   We’re walking in memory of our son Logan who passed away on July 27, 2008.  Logan was with us for eight short weeks, but in that time he touched our hearts and showed us what it means to be strong and brave.  To honor Logan’s birth and short life, we invite you to join our team and raise funds to help March of Dimes efforts to give every baby a healthy start. To join us, visit marchforbabies.org/teams/659237 and sign up today or contact Lance Shinsato at shinsato@gmail.com to get more information!

If you can’t make the walk, but would still like to sponsor me – so I can walk for you – please visit my March for Babies page marchforbabies.org/shinsato and enter your pledge.

Here’s the information for the March for Babies on Oahu:

To find out about a March for Babies in your area, please visit marchforbabies.org.

With your support, there’s hope! Premature birth and birth defects take a tremendous emotional and physical toll on babies and their families. You can help by joining our Family Team at March for Babies to walk and raise funds for March of Dimes research and programs to help moms have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies.

Permalink Comments

03.05.09

March of Dimes – Newborn Screening Update

Posted in Kim, Lance, Logan at 11:51 am by lance

Received this update from the March of Dimes…  If you or someone you know is expecting, it is highly encourage that you learn more about newborn screening.  In Hawaii, it is state law that every newborn baby be tested for 32 different disorders…

We have some very good news to share: After nine years of intensive advocacy efforts, nearly every baby born in this country now lives in a state that requires screening for most of the 29 serious but treatable disorders recommended by the American College of Medical Genetics.

This is a remarkable public health advance essentially eliminating state-by-state screening gaps. And it was made possible by people like you — the volunteers, donors and staff of the March of Dimes — working in tandem with our partners and state officials. The clear beneficiaries are babies and their families.

Recently, TIME Magazine, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times Health Blog, San Francisco Chronicle, Health Day, Health News Digest, MedPage Today, CNN Radio and several NBC-affiliate stations shared this story following the release of our Newborn Screening Report Card.

Newborn screening involves a simple blood test taken before the baby is discharged from the hospital and is done to detect certain rare disorders before any symptoms begin. If diagnosed early, these disorders can be successfully managed or treated to prevent death, disability or other severe consequences such as mental retardation.

If you or someone you know is expecting, I encourage you to learn more about newborn screening.

Even while we are celebrating, we are continuing to work hard on this issue. Please join us either by signing up as an eAdvocate to help secure federal funding for the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act (Public Law 110-204) or by working with your March of Dimes Chapter on this topic.

Together we are touching—and improving — the lives of our nation’s babies and families.

Permalink Comments