Baby Mackenzie Godsill of Kekaha was born almost six weeks prematurely in October. Today she is a healthy 3-month-old weighing in at more than 10 pounds and is ready to meet people on Feb. 24 starting at 7:30 a.m. in
Baby Mackenzie Godsill of Kekaha was born almost six weeks prematurely in October.
Today she is a healthy 3-month-old weighing in at more than 10 pounds and is ready to meet people on Feb. 24 starting at 7:30 a.m. in front of Starbucks at Kukui Grove.
The Godsill family is the March of Dimes ambassador family for Kaua‘i and Mackenzie, along with mom Annie and big sister Fiona, will join organizers at this year’s kickoff of the March for Babies walk.
Mackenzie had a long journey to her birth. Annie was diagnosed with a tear in the placenta which created a serious complication to carrying Mackenzie to full term, according to a March of Dimes press release.
At her 25th week, Annie was admitted to the Kapiolani Children’s Hospital on O‘ahu where Mackenzie was born nine weeks later at Annie’s 34th week of pregnancy. A normal full term pregnancy is 40 to 42 weeks.
Mackenzie tipped the scale at three pounds, 11 ounces and was placed in the Kapiolani Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for 17 days following her premature birth.
Annie and Mackenzie stayed at Kapiolani Children’s Hospital for 81 days during which time the family received support from the March of Dimes volunteers and benefited from the research and technology used at the neonatal unit as well as counseling and support for the entire family.
Cheryl Ann Farrell of the Kaua‘i March for Babies said teams that are confirmed by Feb. 24 can receive a Starbucks gift card for coming in to visit that morning.
People who are interested in finding out how the March of Dimes benefits Kaua‘i’s young babies can come to the event to talk story with the ambassador family and pick up event information for the April 4 walk.
The March for Babies is the March of Dimes’ premier fundraising event that benefits all babies, Farrell said in the release.
It was started in 1970 and is the original walking event, helping raise money to fund important research and programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and give hope to the families of babies born prematurely or sick.
For more information on the March for Babies, call Farrell at 652-1284 or e-mail kauai.marchforbabies@gmail.com.
For more information on the March of Dimes, visit www.marchofdimes.com.
Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
