Governor Proclaims November as Prematurity Awareness Month

The March of Dimes is working to increase attention to this growing crisis in Oregon.

Governor Ted Kulongoski (FILE) Photo by: Tim King

(SALEM) - Kelsey Spor of Portland was born 14 weeks premature and weighed just 1 pound, 3 ounces—not much bigger than a can of Coke. Doctors told Kelsey's parents, Charlene and Albert that their daughter would not survive and to begin making arrangements. Today, Kelsey is ten years old, but suffers from several serious health issues related to her premature birth.

Kelsey's story is not unique. In Oregon, one in ten babies is born too soon and premature birth is the leading killer of newborns.

Because premature birth is a growing crisis (up 26 percent in Oregon since 1990), Governor Kulongoski has declared November as Prematurity Awareness Month. The March of Dimes is leading several activities to bring increased attention and support in the fight against premature birth.

BILLBOARDS: Twenty billboards featuring families affected by premature birth, including the Spors, are posted in Portland and Vancouver for the month of November. The billboards are sponsored by Regenece BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon.

PINK AND BLUE LIGHTINGS: Several structures are lit in pink and blue in honor of Prematurity Awareness Month including: Liberty Centre, 650 NE Holladay St. in Portland; Kaiser Permanente Building, 500 NE Multnomah in Portland; Hilton Vancouver, 301 W. 6th Street in Vancouver; The Dalles Dam; and the Willamette Queen in Salem.

COIN CAMPAIGN: When the March of Dimes started in 1938, Americans donated their dimes to fight polio. During Prematurity Awareness Month, the March of Dimes is going back to its roots and launching a coin campaign to fight prematurity. Families are encouraged to donate their spare change to the March of Dimes through Coinstar Centers located in Fred Meyer and Albertson's stores. The money will fund research to better understand the causes of premature birth and education programs to increase awareness of the known risk factors.

PREMATURITY SUMMIT: On Monday, November 13th, more than 130 prenatal outreach workers and maternity case managers will attend the March of Dimes Prematurity Summit at Legacy Meridian Park Hospital Health Education Center, 19300 SW 65th St in Tualatin, from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM. The professional education program will provide the latest information on premature birth from local experts.

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of education, community services, research and advocacy to save babies.