March of Dimes to host charity walk

WILMINGTON — The March of dimes is a non-profit organization that has spent the last 70 years trying to protect the health of babies. The group has made a big impact on the lives of two little girls here in Wilmington.

Rachel and Garnet Messier are happy and healthy little girls now. But this wasn’t always the case. Their mother, Amy Messier said, “Three years ago they were born prematurely at only 26 weeks old, which means they were a born a full three weeks early and they weighed only one pound 15 ounces.”

As soon as the twins were born they were given a medicine that opened their lungs to help them breath.

“We think of my girls as miracle girls, because they were born so early and because of the medicine and the March of Dimes they were only on a ventilator for a day and half,” Messier said.

When Rachel and Garnet where born they were so tiny they could fit in the palm of you hand, and their hands were about the size of the tip of your thumb, but with medicine funded by the March of Dimes they are the happy healthy little girls they are now.

“They are happy three-year-olds. Their favorite thing to do is run and play with their brothers and they play pretend with their baby dolls. And if you didn’t know you wouldn’t know,” Messier said.

Messier now volunteers with the March of Dimes to try and help save other babies’ lives.

“You never know when pre-maturity, birth defects or problems with your children and this organization can help anyone.”

The March of Dimes helps fund research that focuses on babies’ health. You can help support the March of Dimes by sending donations or attending the “March for Babies” walk at 9 a.m. Saturday April 5 at Greenfield Lake Park in Wilmington.

For more information visit www.marchforbabies.org.