Published: December 09, 2008 08:27 am      

Teams needed for April fundraiser

CUMBERLAND — Born at a tiny 1-pound, 14 ounces, Maryssa Beyer is now a healthy 8-year-old girl, thanks to help from the March of Dimes.

“My wife was diagnosed with placenta previa, where the baby grows over the placenta,” said Brett Beyer, father of Maryssa and captain of the Wal-Mart March of Dimes team. “They were able to give my wife steroid injections to help my daughter’s lungs develop quicker so when she came out, she didn’t need oxygen.”

Though Maryssa was still not fully developed, she was able to breathe on her own at birth.

“She is now a healthy, well-energized 8-year-old with no major health complications,” Beyer said. “I truly believe if it wasn’t for all the efforts of March of Dimes’ research and other stuff, I wouldn’t have my daughter today.”

Beyer and his family have participated in March of Dimes fundraisers every year since April 2001.

“We had help from March of Dimes and we wanted to help other people get help from them as well,” he said. “I also want my daughter to remember there are other children like her; what she went through other children are going through and we want to help them get help.”

But Beyer isn’t the only parent to participate in the March for Babies fundraiser who has benefited from the organization. Samantha Jones, captain of the Western Maryland Health System’s team, has also had help from March of Dimes research.

“My son Shawn was born with a congenital heart defect; he had a ventral septal defect, and had to have open heart surgery at 5 months,” Jones said. “He still has mitral stenosis and is going to need his valve replaced in the future, but with March of Dimes’ research, and the advancements made in cardiac every day, it will benefit him in the long run.”

Jones said her son, a healthy 12-year-old, has never had to be rehospitalized or be on any medications.

“They’ve come a long way,” Jones said of cardiac advancements. “They’re using animal valves so you don’t have to be on medication like you do when you have a mechanical valve.”

Jones and her family have been involved with the March of Dimes for 10 years, including her 7-year-old son, Seth.

“He understands (the cause), but mostly he knows that this will help his brother,” Jones said.

The March of Dimes March for Babies walk, formerly WalkAmerica, is quickly ap-proaching and teams are starting to form all over Allegany County.

“We usually have about 100 teams from different companies, organizations, schools and families,” said Jessica Wagoner, community director for Allegany and Washington counties. “Many teams walk for different reasons, some for a preemie, a baby that’s passed away or even for a healthy child.”

Wagoner said many people do not realize that March of Dimes does not just benefit premature babies, but all babies.

March for Babies funding goes toward research, advocacy efforts and participation in many different efforts, such as trying to get the state Children’s Health Insurance Program and health care for mothers, babies and children. March of Dimes also helps in legislative aspects such as getting all screening tests for newborn babies.

Funds also go toward community programs.

“Right now we have a grant with the Western Maryland Health System,” Wagoner said. “If babies are born and have to be taken to a different hospital or need to stay at the hospital for long periods of time, we have gas cards for the families for traveling back and forth. We want to help ease the little bit of stress of traveling and the financial burden that a lot of parents do face when something like this happens.”

Just recently the March of Dimes held the Festival of Trees, where approximately $35,000 was raised, up from last year, which was just shy of $28,000.

Now the March for Babies walk is around the corner, hoping to match last year’s $112,000. Wagoner realizes this may be harder due to the state of the economy.

“(This cause) is definitely an important cause because every baby born benefits from the work March of Dimes does,” Wagoner said. “If we can get every baby born to a healthy start, that’s the best start they can have in their life and maybe prevent future problems in their life.”

The walk is 3 1/2 miles and, for Allegany County, will be April 18 at Rocky Gap State Park at 9 a.m. In Garrett County, 10 a.m., May 2, at Broadford Park.

For more information, to start a team or become a sponsor, visit www.marchforbabies.org or call the Western Maryland division at (301) 722-3867.

Contact Tess Hill at thill@times-news.com.