My son, delivered pre-term from a very high-risk pregnancy, received surfactant therapy for a burst air sac in his lungs and spent the first four days of his life in NICU.  At the time, surfactant was just a word the doctors used in an attempt to pacify me, to try to describe what was going on, what had happened to my son, why I couldn’t hold him, why he was laboring to make that wheezy sound that went from cute to horrifying within moments.  I was in a bit of a haze myself, having almost died twice that day just giving birth to him, but that’s another story, and yes, I always remembered that strange word surfactant.   Only until now, I really never knew what it was.  

I certainly never knew that surfactant is a detergent-like substance produced in the lungs that aids in breathing.  I was wholly unaware that since surfactant therapy became widespread, infant deaths due to RDS have dropped by over two-thirds in this country. 

It was only after receiving an invitation from Carol Evans, President of Working Mother magazine, to attend an event celebrating K-Mart and the March of Dimes hitting the $100M fundraising mark, that I inadvertently learned this . . . and so much more.  

My intention was to cover the K-Mart/March of Dimes event as a WM blogger, not realizing that the story behind the story would resonate with every fibre of my being.  I listened with rapt attention while Dr. Jennifer Howse, President of the March of Dimes, explained the significance of the research and proudly announced the creation of the first transdisciplinary research facility in Stanford, California, dedicated to seeking answers about, and prevention for, pre-term birth issues.

I was drawn in as Dr. Howse described the impact this research can and is already having and most importantly, to whom it owed thanks for being able to create this cutting edge research facility: K-Mart.  

Yes, K-Mart, the bastion of the “thank-goodness-it’s-open-late” big box retailers where you go when you need anything from a lug nut to a bra, food stuff to lawn furniture.  But K-Mart has a far greater purpose and one that again, I was unaware of until I showed up, slightly naive, for this auspicious event honoring and celebrating K-mart and the March of Dimes.  Their corporate philanthropic relationship has lasted more than a lot of marriages, 29 years and counting!

According to Diedre Merriwether, SVP & COO of K-Mart/Sears, it is so fitting that the regular, good, hardworking Americans support and exemplify that mission.   Those people are the customers and employees of her company and are ultimately responsible for the success of this almost three decade long relationship that culminated in reaching the $100M mark.  Now that is something worth celebrating.

That this event would take place in the grand, historic Hunter College Roosevelt House only made the message that much more memorable, because it was the home of President Roosevelt, whose story, Dr. Howse offered, “was one of finding strength through adversity”.  Now that’s a theme I know a little something about. But I hadn’t known how strongly his story, and what he created by forming the March of Dimes, would resonate with me.  After all my son and I owe that organization everything.

So I want to express my gratitude.  First to Working Mother magazine President and March of Dimes Board member, Carol Evans, for inviting me to the event.  I want to thank the March of Dimes directly for saving my son’s life and K-Mart for reminding me that every single person can make a difference in a profound way.  When we work together, we can make miracles.   

I am honored therefore, to introduce my own Fundrazr platform which I initially created to help give birth to my new endeavor, the Diva Mama Aromatherapy Synergy Spray line (for anyone seeking sanity on the way to serenity).   Beyond the start-up level of funds I am seeking to launch my line, my goal is to raise an initial donation of $3,000 for the March of Dimes and the BreastCancer.org, in honor and dedication to my mother, who has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer.   After the initial raise, as ongoing support, I plan on donating 25¢ from every 4 oz. bottle sold to my chosen charities. 

FDR asked every American to send in their dimes and I am asking that we keep them marching along.  Please donate today through my Fundrazr campaign and let's demonstrate what empowered mothers can do by “working together for stronger, healthier babies and for each other."

Click here, for more information on March of Dimes prematurity research.

Photo: Diva Mama, Shira Adler interviewing Diedre Merriwether, courtesy of the March of Dimes