No one knows the importance of March of Times more than April Jolly. After three miscarriages, Jolly had two premature births and experienced firsthand both the nonprofit’s expertise and kindness. “It’s so scary to see your tiny baby covered in tubes and wires,” she says. “But having the encouragement and help of March of Dimes made the time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) so much easier.”
The foundation, established by President Franklin Roosevelt to study and prevent polio, works to improve the health of mothers and babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. It also arms health care professionals with resources to keep them up to date on the latest regarding preconception, premature birth and newborn screenings, as well as provides millions of dollars in grants and scholarships. In Missouri, 75,360 babies are born each year and of those, 7,346 are born prematurely. More than 2,200 babies are born with a birth defect, and 491 babies die before reaching their first birthday.
Dr. F. Sessions Cole, chief medical officer at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, has a long history with March of Dimes, having worked with the nonprofit in the mid-’80s when he was a junior faculty member at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. “March of Dimes offered me a grant, and that’s what got my career off the ground,” he says. He since has been an active member of the board of directors for Missouri and currently serves on the national board. This year, he will be honored at the organization’s 25th anniversary Signature Chefs Auction; April Jolly and husband Andwele are the event’s Ambassador Family.
Cole was one of the doctors who helped oversee the care of the Jolly babies. Preston was born at 29 weeks, weighing 2 pounds, 12 ounces; Sheridan, a little girl, was born at 33 weeks via emergency C-section. After a combined 75 days in the NICU, the babies are now healthy, active children.
Cole says because premature babies can have difficulty developing normally and hitting the usual milestones, they may have increased risk for autism, ADHD and, in severe cases, cerebral palsy. Asthma and complications from influenza may be issues in adulthood. The biggest short-term risks are breathing problems, he says. “But thanks to March of Dimes, which supported the research, there is now a medicine given to all premature infants that helps keep the lungs supple.”
As far as the risks for having a premature birth, Cole says family history, previous preterm babies, multiple gestations and an abnormally shaped uterus all can be factors. But he adds that a woman can still have a preterm baby with no risk factor at all. “I want to stress that it is not the mother’s fault,” Cole says. “Most women do a terrific job of staying pregnant as long as they possibly can.”
The Signature Chefs Auction features the culinary talent of more than a dozen local chefs. The event is set for Sept. 14 at the Four Seasons Hotel.
Pictured: The 2017 Ambassador Family: Andwele and April Jolly with Sheridan and Preston
Photo: Bill Barrett
The March of Dimes 25th Anniversary Signature Chefs Auction take place Sept. 14 at the Four Seasons Hotel. Pictured on the cover, front row: 2017 Ambassador Family Sheridan, Andwele, April and Preston Jolly. Second row: Event chairs Kelvin Westbrook and Richard McClure. Back row: 25th Anniversary honorees Dr. Pat Cole and Dr. F. Sessions Cole. Not pictured: Culinary chairs Thom Sehnert and Kevin Nashan. For more information, call 314.513.9990 or visit signaturechefs.org/stlouis.
Cover Design by Allie Bronksy | Cover Photo by Bill Barrett
