Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
They turned sorrow into positive action
BY: SUSAN H. KAHN Assistant Editor
Losing a child inspires family to raise money for March of Dimes
Kelley Newman had a normal pregnancy; her only hint that all might not be well was that the baby was small for its gestational age. However, she carried the baby to term.
But moments after delivering Olivia Jordan in February 2005, the joy Kelley and her husband Neil were feeling was replaced by fear and sorrow. While the nurses were washing the 4 lb. 14 oz. infant, they discovered she had the most severe form of spina bifida. Her spine had developed outside of her back in a little sac.
Olivia was quickly life-flighted to the neonatal intensive care unit of another nearby hospital. More bad news greeted the Newmans when they were reunited with their newborn later that day.
“We were told that Olivia had other birth defects and that it was going to be touch and go,” says Newman.
In the days that followed, further testing revealed numerous birth defects of the skeleton and internal organs as well as other health problems. Doctors told the Newmans that Olivia would not survive without many complex surgeries and even then, because of the severity of her brain malformation, she would not be able to sustain herself. The young couple made a heartbreaking decision.
“We took Olivia off all the machines and held her for the next day-and-a-half,” says Newman. “She peacefully passed away in my husband’s arms.”
In the weeks following their daughter’s death, the couple searched for answers, consulting with genetic specialists and doing their own research. Overall, Olivia’s condition was classified as prenatal growth deficiency. Although Kelley had taken prenatal vitamins from the time she learned she was pregnant, she discovered her body is unable to “hold” folic acid, the B vitamin essential in preventing neural tube defects.
“Our situation was unusual,” says Newman. “A lot of the problems Olivia had are so rare that (when they occur) the pregnancies do not go to term.”
While Newman was home recovering from the delivery and trying to cope with her loss, the Brunswick Hills resident turned to the March of Dimes. She was grateful for the information they sent her about neonatal loss and grieving.
“After that, I made a decision that I had to turn this into something positive or I would never get through it,” says Newman. “I wanted to help prevent this from happening to another family.”
Kelley resolved to get involved with WalkAmerica, an annual March of Dimes fundraiser. She organized a family team in her daughter’s memory. In 2005, “Walking for Olivia” raised $2,300, putting the Newmans near the top 10 family teams in the state.
In 2006, Newman challenged herself to raise even more money for March of Dimes. A client relationship specialist at Acxiom, she garnered the support of the information services company’s charitable giving committee. The 200 employees in her Independence office held bake sales and other activities to raise $880. Her husband’s consulting company was also generous. Efforts by countless others who walked with or sponsored the Newmans’ team enabled them to raise over $9,000, making them the event’s third biggest fundraisers in Ohio.
This year, the Newmans are again heading their family team in WalkAmerica, which takes place Sunday, April 29. And they are delighted to have a new team member n 4-month-old Brooklyn, who will be pushed in her stroller by her proud parents.
Founded in 1938, the original mission of the March of Dimes was to raise money to fight polio. After that crippling childhood disease was eradicated, the organization focused its efforts on preventing birth defects and lowering infant mortality. According to the March of Dimes, more than half a million babies are born prematurely each year in the U.S., and more than 120,000 are born with birth defects. These are the leading causes of death in the first year of babies’ lives.
WalkAmerica raises funds for research, educational programs, and essential support for families who have a baby in neonatal intensive care.
Registration for WalkAmerica begins at 8 a.m. at the Quicken Loans Arena, and the walk begins at 9. The 4.5-mile route will take walkers past Cleveland landmarks including Jacobs Field, CSU, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, and Browns Stadium before concluding at Tower City Center where vendors will offer a “taste of Cleveland.”
skahn@cjn.org
For more information, visit www.marchof dimes.com.
To sponsor or walk with the Newmans, visit www.walk america.org/ oliviajordan0224, or mail donations directly to the Newmans, 890 Woodfield Lane, Brunswick, OH 44212.
Kelley Newman had a normal pregnancy; her only hint that all might not be well was that the baby was small for its gestational age. However, she carried the baby to term.
But moments after delivering Olivia Jordan in February 2005, the joy Kelley and her husband Neil were feeling was replaced by fear and sorrow. While the nurses were washing the 4 lb. 14 oz. infant, they discovered she had the most severe form of spina bifida. Her spine had developed outside of her back in a little sac.
Olivia was quickly life-flighted to the neonatal intensive care unit of another nearby hospital. More bad news greeted the Newmans when they were reunited with their newborn later that day.
“We were told that Olivia had other birth defects and that it was going to be touch and go,” says Newman.
In the days that followed, further testing revealed numerous birth defects of the skeleton and internal organs as well as other health problems. Doctors told the Newmans that Olivia would not survive without many complex surgeries and even then, because of the severity of her brain malformation, she would not be able to sustain herself. The young couple made a heartbreaking decision.
“We took Olivia off all the machines and held her for the next day-and-a-half,” says Newman. “She peacefully passed away in my husband’s arms.”
In the weeks following their daughter’s death, the couple searched for answers, consulting with genetic specialists and doing their own research. Overall, Olivia’s condition was classified as prenatal growth deficiency. Although Kelley had taken prenatal vitamins from the time she learned she was pregnant, she discovered her body is unable to “hold” folic acid, the B vitamin essential in preventing neural tube defects.
“Our situation was unusual,” says Newman. “A lot of the problems Olivia had are so rare that (when they occur) the pregnancies do not go to term.”
While Newman was home recovering from the delivery and trying to cope with her loss, the Brunswick Hills resident turned to the March of Dimes. She was grateful for the information they sent her about neonatal loss and grieving.
“After that, I made a decision that I had to turn this into something positive or I would never get through it,” says Newman. “I wanted to help prevent this from happening to another family.”
Kelley resolved to get involved with WalkAmerica, an annual March of Dimes fundraiser. She organized a family team in her daughter’s memory. In 2005, “Walking for Olivia” raised $2,300, putting the Newmans near the top 10 family teams in the state.
In 2006, Newman challenged herself to raise even more money for March of Dimes. A client relationship specialist at Acxiom, she garnered the support of the information services company’s charitable giving committee. The 200 employees in her Independence office held bake sales and other activities to raise $880. Her husband’s consulting company was also generous. Efforts by countless others who walked with or sponsored the Newmans’ team enabled them to raise over $9,000, making them the event’s third biggest fundraisers in Ohio.
This year, the Newmans are again heading their family team in WalkAmerica, which takes place Sunday, April 29. And they are delighted to have a new team member n 4-month-old Brooklyn, who will be pushed in her stroller by her proud parents.
Founded in 1938, the original mission of the March of Dimes was to raise money to fight polio. After that crippling childhood disease was eradicated, the organization focused its efforts on preventing birth defects and lowering infant mortality. According to the March of Dimes, more than half a million babies are born prematurely each year in the U.S., and more than 120,000 are born with birth defects. These are the leading causes of death in the first year of babies’ lives.
WalkAmerica raises funds for research, educational programs, and essential support for families who have a baby in neonatal intensive care.
Registration for WalkAmerica begins at 8 a.m. at the Quicken Loans Arena, and the walk begins at 9. The 4.5-mile route will take walkers past Cleveland landmarks including Jacobs Field, CSU, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, and Browns Stadium before concluding at Tower City Center where vendors will offer a “taste of Cleveland.”
skahn@cjn.org
For more information, visit www.marchof dimes.com.
To sponsor or walk with the Newmans, visit www.walk america.org/ oliviajordan0224, or mail donations directly to the Newmans, 890 Woodfield Lane, Brunswick, OH 44212.
 |
 |
|
| Levine honored by United Way | Menorah Park seeks land for assisted-living home |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of clevelandjewishnews.com.
You must register with a valid email to post comments. Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments. Registration is free.
Registered users sign in here: |
Become a Registered User |
