St. Luke’s hosts March for Babies Kick-off event

January 27, 2009 
 
St. Luke’s Hospital was the first “home” for the Fox triplets. The girls, Stella, Zoe and Abby are the daughters of Ian and Carey Fox of Cedar Rapids.

Born at only 27 weeks gestation -- Stella weighed 1 pound 15 ounces, Zoe 1 pound 9 ounces and Abby weighed 1 pound 11 ounces. Babies born before 37 weeks are considered preterm.

After they were born – the babies were immediately rushed to St. Luke’s NICU and placed on highly specialized ventilators to help with breathing. Monitors were attached to constantly check their breathing, heart rate, blood pressure and temperature. And intravenous (IV) lines delivered precise rates of fluid, as low as one-half teaspoon an hour. The Fox triplets spent 80 days in St. Luke’s NICU.

“The time spent in the NICU was a roller coaster of emotions,” said Carey Fox. “The doctors and nurses were great through it all and made us feel like St. Luke’s was our home away from home.”

In July, the girls will mark their third birthday and are typical toddlers – keeping their parents very busy.

“Looking at the girls today – it seems hard to believe they were once that small,” said Carey Fox. “I am so grateful for the expert care they received at St. Luke’s. It’s my hope that other parents won’t have to go through what we went through.”

Eastern Iowans are invited to join the Fox Family on Saturday, January 31, 2009 from 10 a.m. to Noon at St. Luke’s Women & Children’s Center, located along 11th Street and First Avenue, NE. Families throughout Cedar Rapids will join together in the March for Babies Family Team Kick-off to support the March of Dimes. This event assembles teams for the upcoming March for Babies Walk, which is set for Sunday, April 26, at Noelridge Park in Cedar Rapids.

At the kick-off event -- individuals will have the opportunity to meet the Fox family – named by the March of Dimes as the 2009 Cedar Rapids Ambassador family – and learn more about the March for Babies by participating in a fun-filled family oriented workshop and information event for family teams and walkers.

Individuals planning to attend the January 31st Kick-off event are asked to RSVP by calling 319/247-5643.

According to the March of Dimes, premature birth is the most urgent infant health problem in the U.S. today. It affects more than half a million babies each year, with the number growing every day. The March of Dimes issued a Report Card on Premature Birth, giving the nation a D and Iowa a D.

St. Luke’s Hospital is a proud sponsor of the 2009 March for Babies. Individuals unable to attend the March for Babies Kick-off event can learn more at www.marchforbabies.org.

MEDIA CONTACT: Sarah Corizzo, St. Luke’s Hospital, 319/369-8372 or 319/560-2385.