Always arriving early...

We sometimes underestimate the influence of little things...

- Charles Chestnutt

"The little things" can refer to many things, but figuratively and literally. It can be remembering someone's favorite color, calling just to say "hi", a small piece of dark chocolate, holding the door open for someone, sending a thank you note, or giving a hug. It can be a pat on the back, a smile on the sidewalk, or a flower. For some families, it can also mean a tiny miracle: a premature baby.

Premature babies are defined as those born before 37 weeks gestation. Within this time point, there are various breakdowns of "early", "premature" and "very premature". But that is not the focus of this post. Instead, it's the babies!

I was born 10 weeks early, back some 23 years ago. At the time, the odds were not that great. I was at risk for many complications and diseases, most pressing being my lack of lung development. But thanks to some amazing humans in the NICU, and research conducted by the March of Dimes, I survived, and am a proud NICU grad! Only about a decade before I was born, March of Dimes researchers created a synthetic form of surfactant, a mixture of lipids and proteins that help us breathe better. Our bodies start producing surfactant around ~34 weeks gestation, which helps our lungs develop. Because I was so premature, my lungs were not yet developed, and I had a hard time breathing. So, I was given synthetic surfactant that saved my life, thanks to the March of Dimes!

Since I was 9, I have been volunteering with the March of Dimes as a fundraiser, spokesperson, advocate, Council Member and national ambassador. My time with this incredible organization has truly made me the person I am today, and shaped the physician I hope to become.

I was lucky. Though I stayed in the NICU for 6 weeks, I am overall very healthy. I became one of the more than 500,000 babies born preterm in the United States each year, but I did not become one whose life was claimed. Prematurity is the leading cause of newborn death in the United States. Even babies born just a few weeks too soon can face serious health challenges and are at risk for lifelong disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, lung problems, vision and hearing loss, and learning disabilities.

The March of Dimes has had many focuses in it's past, starting with polio, then transitioning into other children-focused health research, and today, focusing on infant mortality, birth defects and prematurity. Recently, the MOD has also started focusing on Maternal health, and improving healthcare for moms. The #BlanketChange campaign is a huge step in the right direction!

My research that I worked on during my gap year is focused on birth defects and infant mortality, two things the March of Dimes is fighting to end! Coincidence? I think not! Please check out the Pediatric Genomics Discovery Program at Yale University here:

https://www.yalemedicine.org/departments/pediatric-genomics/

Additionally, my current research as a medical student is focused on the maternal experience of women who gave birth via cesarean section, with objectives to improve physician communication, maternal healthcare and the birthing experience. If you or someone you know gave birth in the last 12 months, please fill out this survey!

http://ucf.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eu4sVmtRyGz7P93

This is a short post, just a little back story, and hopefully a curiosity booster! For more info on my story, I've included a few links. And, feel free to check out https://www.marchofdimes.org/ and learn more about Healthy Moms and Strong Babies!

https://med.ucf.edu/news/meet-the-class-of-2022/

http://cas.loyno.edu/biology/achievements/annalisa-sega-%E2%80%9817

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=sega+AG