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In Honor of March of Dimes Prematurity Awareness
It has been nearly 12 years since Rachel's birth at 510 grams, or about 18 ounces. Since then, considerable progress has been made in saving the tiniest babies, premature infants weighing 1,000 grams or less. In addition, improvements in early treatment have reduced the chances of significant disability. Early intervention is critical since follow-up studies on premature infants indicate that as a group, they are at greater risk for physical disability as well as different types of cognitive and learning deficits. Thanks to the efforts and dedication of countless clinicians and research investigators, the outlook for these tiny warriors have substantially improved. In addition to treatments for infants born prematurely, there have also been increased efforts at developing effective interventions to reduce the risk of prematurity itself.
I have heard some people who question the social and economic costs associated with saving our tiniest babies. They put forth the argument that many sick children were never meant to survive. If one were to strictly adhere to this line of reasoning then society's efforts to help people who have sustained neurological conditions such as stroke or closed head injury could be equally assailed. Millions of persons with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, renal disease or congestive heart failure have been able to add years to their lives and quality to their years. Why should our precious children, if there is a chance of viability, not have a similar opportunity?
In the United States, we spend billions of dollars for cosmetic surgery and pills to enhance our sexual performance and rarely consider that far more money is spent to look and feel good than to eradicate prematurity or develop more effective treatments for too many of our children born too early or full-term with life threatening illnesses. I only have to look into my daughter Rachel's eyes to know the value of the work that neonatology professionals and organizations such as the March of Dimes provide to our communities...
David Loewenstein PhD is Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Miami School of Medicine and Author of "For the Love of Rachel: A Father's Story" In honor of Prematurity Awareness, one half of all profits on book sales of For the Love of Rachel: A Father's Story will be contributed to the March of Dimes by the Publisher Enalan Communications www.enalan.com when bought online at the publisher's website as described below.
To insure that the March of Dimes receives the appropriate contribution, please enter MOD32 just before checkout on the publisher's secure website www.enalan.com. The copy will be signed by the author and all Share members will receive $3.00 off the list price of the book.
Dr. Loewenstein can be reached at dloewenstein@att.net
I have heard some people who question the social and economic costs associated with saving our tiniest babies. They put forth the argument that many sick children were never meant to survive. If one were to strictly adhere to this line of reasoning then society's efforts to help people who have sustained neurological conditions such as stroke or closed head injury could be equally assailed. Millions of persons with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, renal disease or congestive heart failure have been able to add years to their lives and quality to their years. Why should our precious children, if there is a chance of viability, not have a similar opportunity?
In the United States, we spend billions of dollars for cosmetic surgery and pills to enhance our sexual performance and rarely consider that far more money is spent to look and feel good than to eradicate prematurity or develop more effective treatments for too many of our children born too early or full-term with life threatening illnesses. I only have to look into my daughter Rachel's eyes to know the value of the work that neonatology professionals and organizations such as the March of Dimes provide to our communities...
David Loewenstein PhD is Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Miami School of Medicine and Author of "For the Love of Rachel: A Father's Story" In honor of Prematurity Awareness, one half of all profits on book sales of For the Love of Rachel: A Father's Story will be contributed to the March of Dimes by the Publisher Enalan Communications www.enalan.com when bought online at the publisher's website as described below.
To insure that the March of Dimes receives the appropriate contribution, please enter MOD32 just before checkout on the publisher's secure website www.enalan.com. The copy will be signed by the author and all Share members will receive $3.00 off the list price of the book.
Dr. Loewenstein can be reached at dloewenstein@att.net
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