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Have you seen the "realistic" preemie doll by Ashton-Drake????

LogansMom28w - 10:19pm Jan 31, 2005 EST
My 3 boybarians are 4, 5 and 7.

As a mom who spent months in the NICU, I am so saddened and disheartened by this portrayal of a "truly real" preemie baby. Ashton-Drake is advertising a doll, Little Grace, and claim her to be "the most realistic preemie doll ever!". I am just sick looking at this. The doll is pink, chubby, and healthy looking. The ad even brags about her "folds and creases". My 28 weeker is still so thin he has no fat whatsoever. How can they sincerely market her? This, to me, seems to undo all the work March of Dimes is trying to do to educate public. All this doll does is reinforce the concept that preterm infants are just like fullterm, only smaller and cuter. "Little Grace" is nothing like my preemie.
I wrote a letter to Ashton-Drake demanding that she be remarketed as a fullterm baby. They sent me a standard form letter reply basically saying that thanks to modern medicine and the support of their loving parents these babies are just fine. My heart feels so saddened by this. I am even more frustrated by the companies blatant disregard to the injustice they are doing for preemie babies. I feel like they are capitalizing on this tragic condition and only adding fuel to the fire. Has the March of Dimes tried to contact the Ashton-Drake Galleries about this ad/doll?
For those of you who haven't seen her, here is the link:
http://ashtondrake.collectiblestoday.com/ct/product/prdid-300063001.jsp

sigh* I will post my letter to the company if you guys want to see it, as well as their response. I am so frustrated.

(older msg: 155)

Melissa M. - May 24, 2005 1:39 pm (#156 Total: 170)

Mom of 25 weekers, Now Age 5 & 1.2 (3 surviving quads)

I think I have an e-mail back from AD Sue...will that do...and maybe talk to the powers that be at MOD...

I have my letter written and ready for our nation's senators...just need to throw stamps on them.

Have a GREAT DAY EVERYONE!

Melissa Middleton

moderator - May 24, 2005 8:12 pm (#157 Total: 170)

From the March of Dimes

Hi, everyone: It's Pam with the March of Dimes. We are having new discussions here at the foundation, now that Ashton-Drake has released the quint dolls. We share your concerns that the dolls do not accurately reflect typical quintuplets. We expect to have a statement for the Share community soon. Best wishes to you all.

Susan Brown - May 25, 2005 1:35 am (#158 Total: 170)

Kendalls Mom 33 wk

keep those letters coming

I am still in contact with Hank at WHDH TV Channel 7...I'm sure they will interview anyone interested over the phone...I'm also sending a letter to Good Morning America, and 20/20 or Primetime...basically anyone who will listen I've also contacted my Senator...we'll see what happens...please send any/all letters you have (i've looked through the posts for some) but it's better in the original form to my email address smk021@comcast.net

THANKS SO MUCH EVERYONE...i like the idea Eliott's dad had to send Ashton-Drake a photo of our preemies...perhaps that'll shockem into reality...I'm getting one and sending it tomorrow via regular mail, perhaps if they get (hmmm there are over 4000 members on SHARE) that'll make quite an impact...eh?

huggs

Sue
(kendalls mom 33wk)

Kathryn:Mom&NICU Nurse - May 29, 2005 12:22 am (#159 Total: 170)

Marina 28w, Emma 36w, Olivia 34w 2 days

When I first saw the Ashton-Drake preemie doll a few months ago I was enraged. All I can say is what were they thinking? Did anybody at AD do any research before they released this so called "preemie" doll? This doll is offensive to all preemie parents I am glad that everybody is going something and I am going to e-mail AD next!

Replies to this message

Kathryn:Mom&NICU Nurse (May 29, 2005 12:24 am)

Kathryn:Mom&NICU Nurse - May 29, 2005 12:24 am (#160 Total: 170)

Marina 28w, Emma 36w, Olivia 34w 2 days

Replying to: Kathryn:Mom&NICU Nurse (May 29, 2005 12:22 am)

When I first saw the Ashton-Drake preemie doll a few months ago I was enraged. All I can say...

Re: Have you seen the "realistic" preemie doll by Ashton-Drake????

P.S Don't you love how they changed the name to "Early Arrival" doll. There is nothing early looking about the doo at all.

Susan Brown - Jun 3, 2005 12:17 pm (#161 Total: 170)

Kendalls Mom 33 wk

keep em coming

Sorry I've been away over the long weekend...but I'm sending the letters to Hank at Channel 7 i've only received 3 anyone who has a letter from the company please forward to my email and i will print and send to them. I'm also sending a few photos to the company that have been sent to me.

Thanks to all for your constant help and support

huggs

Sue
(Kendalls mom 33wk)

moderator - Jun 7, 2005 1:49 pm (#162 Total: 170)

From the March of Dimes

Hi, everyone: This is Pam from the March of Dimes. For your information, the March of Dimes has decided not to accept any donations from Ashton-Drake. Like many of you, we believe that their preemie and quintuplet dolls inaccurately portray infants who come too soon or who are multiples. Best wishes to all of you.

Replies to this message

Jacobs-Nana (Jun 7, 2005 2:26 pm)

Jacobs-Nana - Jun 7, 2005 2:26 pm (#163 Total: 170)

Proud Nana to Jacob Aaron "My Hero"

Replying to: moderator (Jun 7, 2005 1:49 pm)

From the March of Dimes: Hi, everyone: This is Pam from the March of Dimes. For your information, the March...

Re: From the March of Dimes

Pam:

I am glad to hear that YEAH!!!!! for the March of Dimes...
I know the valuable uses you guys put to every dollar.... But I am HAPPY to hear that MOD has made this choice.

The unfortunate part of this is they will probably continue to take that Oh Well approach...

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!! MOD!!!!!!!!!!!

[Last Editor: Jacobs-Nana, Jun 7, 2005 7:27 am. Total Edits: 1]

Melissa M. - Jun 7, 2005 7:39 pm (#164 Total: 170)

Mom of 25 weekers, Now Age 5 & 1.2 (3 surviving quads)

Pam,

I am so pleased that you guys have decided to refuse the donations made by the Ashton Drake company! Again and again I am astonished at how supportive you at the MOD office are...and how well you listen to us PoPs. You are such a caring and pro active organization, matching compassion with leadership, and coming up with a dynamic and responsible message of public awareness.

Each of us are connected, and it is sad that Ashton Drake is unable to see this...but I will bet that refusal of their "make nice" donations will at least leave them wondering how what they are doing has infuriated so many good people!

Best Wishes,

Melissa Middleton (mom of 25 wk'r quads. Alex *deceased*, Benjamin, Callie, and Donovan: 23 months old)

( Desiree ) - Jun 7, 2005 7:51 pm (#165 Total: 170)

Devin 36wks, Nia 29wks, and Cade 36wks

That doll is ridiculous!

I saw the add for the doll and didnt think it looked like a preemie at all but decided maybe it looked better in person. I ordered the doll and was shocked at the huge size of it too. my 29 week preemie looked like a skinny sick bird not a rosy plump baby. that doll was chunkier then my full term baby. I am sad to hear their response to your concerns. I sent the doll back the day after I recieved it.
Nia's Mom

~bunniemom~ - Aug 23, 2005 4:48 pm (#166 Total: 170)

I'll send them a picture of what 27 week quintuplets look like. My sons were not plump little men. They were so red and skinny. And that isn't a doll they would want to market. Then I'll send them a picture of my 3 quints who passed. My boys were beautiful, but no company would want to market a doll after them with tiny little legs and red, red skin. Especially after my one pounder, Peter.

They are so sad for doing those dolls.

Shannon Bailor
Mommy to quints born at 27 weeks (July 3, 2005): Lukas, Noah, Samuel (D), Patrick(D), and Peter (D)

rebecca Bright - Aug 25, 2005 4:28 am (#167 Total: 170)

Bad marketing

I do think it was poor marketing for AD to refer to "Grace" as a preemie. The sculpting artist did not intend her as such, but rather a healthy newborn. During the molding/casting process the doll shrunk from the original size, hense the reason, in their infinite wisdom the manufacturer labled her a "preemie". Grace is as chubby and healthy looking as my full term 9 pound daughter, which I am sure is what she was intended to be and miles bigger than my "early arrival" 34 weeker. Slowly the doll market is coming around to more realistic and accurate "preemie" dolls. Even my dolls that the company I am with have chose to produce have more body fat than they should for their size, but they are a whole lot closer to the real thing.

[Last Editor: rebecca Bright, Aug 24, 2005 9:31 pm. Total Edits: 1]

nicugemma

aprilrod71 - Sep 7, 2005 5:38 pm (#168 Total: 170)

Mom of a 24 weeker

I just saw your posting on the preemie doll, I too am saddend by the portrayel of this preemie doll. My little man looked nothing like that doll. Just think if all preemie's looked so healthy we would have nothing to worry about. The company is just portraying a smaller than usual size doll and calling it preemie!

MaddysHope - Sep 22, 2005 11:22 pm (#169 Total: 170)

Hi my name is Luren and that makes me very upset as well. I wnet to the web site and that doll looks nothing like a preemie. I had a 31 weeker but she only weighed 2lbs and she had no rools on her at all. She still doesnt and shes 7 mons old. I wish we could do something about it.

MaddysHope - Sep 22, 2005 11:23 pm (#170 Total: 170)

sorry im a terrible typist

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