Cherokee March for Babies Makes A Difference

The March of Dimes, which was originally founded as an organization to help combat Polio in 1938, has evolved into one of the most powerful groups that assists premature babies and their mothers.

Each year since 1970, the March for Babies walk has raised funds to benefit babies in need of medical care. Overall, the walks have raised $2 billion that goes directly towards helping the little warriors win their battles for life.

One baby that has been helped by the March of Dimes is Cherokee County's own Kennedy Watkins. 

Kennedy entered the world prematurely on Sept. 24, 2009, after a difficult pregnancy for Cheryl Watkins. For the last seven weeks of the pregnancy, there had been no amniotic fluid for Kennedy to derive food and protection from. When she was born, Kennedy weighed one pound, 13 ounces and was only 12 inches long.

After 16 weeks in Neonatal Intensive Care, Kennedy came home with a feeding tube, apnea monitor, and a dislocated hip that needed to be resolved.

Unfortunately, Kennedy's stay at home was short-lived. Three weeks after her big homecoming, she was back at Scottish Rite Hospital because of respiratory problems. Doctors eventually discovered that her prematurity had caused Kennedy to develop pulmonary hypertension. Kennedy suffered a setback, and doctors were not optimistic that she would survive.

For a tense month, Kennedy battled with a chest tube, an oscillator, and was hooked up to more than a dozen drips and inhalation drugs. In April, 2010, the little warrior was given a tracheotomy. 

After a five month battle, Kennedy came home with a trach, ventilator, oxygen, and feeding tube. In the summer of 2011, Kennedy was given a special brace to fix her hip. She came off her oxygen in November, 2011, and her trach tube was removed in July, 2012.

Today, Kennedy still needs her feeding tube, but is receiving speech therapy so she can learn how to eat. She is a happy preschooler who is learning and is being given occupational and physical therapy.

The March of Dimes needs your help to make sure Kennedy's story can be repeated for premature babies for generations to come. This year is the 75th anniversary of the March of Dimes, and 7 million walkers are expected to take part in the March for Babies nationwide.

In Cherokee County, 650 people are expected to turn out for the local march, which will kick off at 7 p.m. on April 26 at Heritage Park in Canton. To register online, follow this link. To rent a table for your business, contact Michele Beal at (678)793-0391 or mbeal@marchofdimes.com.