Rhextyn greets walkers at March for Babies launch

LIHU‘E — Teams and walkers for the 2013 Kaua‘i March for Babies were welcomed by the warm aroma of coffee and pastries wafting from the Starbucks Coffee at Kukui Grove Center Thursday.

Several of the teams, including the Macy’s crew, took advantage of the launch to gather their materials and ideas for fundraising while escaping bouts of sprinkles.

“I don’t know how long we’ve done this,” said Diane Melchor of Macy’s. “Macy’s has done this for as long as I’ve been here, and even before that as Liberty House.”

In addition to picking up the team’s fundraising forms and materials, people signing up for the Kaua‘i March for Babies also had an opportunity to meet Puna and Rhextyn Butay.

Rhextyn was born at 28 weeks and weighed just two pounds, 11 ounces when he was born on June 16, 2011, at the Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Hospital Birthing Center.

His premature arrival prompted immediate action to care for his underdeveloped lungs, and the infant received a surfactant, which was developed by a March of Dimes researcher.

While this was taking place, a transport team from the Kapiolani Medical Center was en route to transfer the young boy to its Neo Intensive Care Unit on O‘ahu.

Volunteers with the March of Dimes worked with the family during the infant’s eight-week stay in the NICU, helping ease stress and anxiety while being separated by an ocean.

Rhextyn, now 19 months old, quietly watched the ongoing registration of March for Babies walkers, his eyes intently darting from face to face as if it could hear the conversations being carried on in the busy coffee shop.

The Kaua‘i March for Babies takes place March 23 at the Lydgate Park with registration opening at 6:45 a.m. followed by the walk starting at 8 a.m.

Registration can be done by visiting www.marchforbabies.org or by calling Molly McGrath, the Kaua‘i March for Babies coordinator, at 268-7262.