By Mary Owen
Kathy Bohnke has a special reason to join in the Salem March for Babies, a March of Dimes event coming on April 27 at Salem Hospital.
In 2010, Bohnke was enjoying a perfectly normal pregnancy with her identical twin girls when complications developed and the girls had to be delivered 12 weeks prematurely.
“On a routine ultrasound at 28 weeks, the girls had developed twin-to-twin trans-fusion syndrome and were struggling,” said Bohnke, a surgical nurse who grew up in Stayton and now lives in Aumsville. “All other scans and tests up to that point were normal, and I had no complications. We were rushed to Salem Hospital, then taken by ambulance to Doernbecher. Twelve hours later the twins were born.”
The Bohnkes hadn’t even picked out names for their daughters whom they later named Hailey Sue and Macy Marie. At 2 pounds 3 ounces, Hailey was smaller and sicker than Macy, who weighed 10 ounces more than her sister. The babies struggled through a barrage of treatments, including blood transfusions, and the Bohnkes traveled daily to Portland to see them while caring for their 18-month-old son, Jacoby.
“We spent Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s and my birthday at the hospital,” Bohnke said. “My birthday was the worst. About a week before, the twins were given routine brain scans to make sure they didn’t have any brain bleeding that was missed. At that time, we were told there was a problem and that Hailey had a part in her brain that didn’t get oxygen and would not repair itself. Most kids with this have cerebral palsy.”
The Bohnkes were devastated by the diagnosis and had to wait days before a specialist could tell them more.
“The day after my birthday, he sat down with us and showed us the scans,” Bohnke said. “He told us that the images did not show this at all, Hailey’s brain just looked different, and that there was nothing wrong with her. It was another miracle for the twins.”
Hailey and Macy came home on Jan. 9, 2011, after spending 67 days in the neonatal intensive care unit with no medical problems or allergies.
“Today, they are size and developmentally on track with their peers,” their mom said. But Bohnke never forgot the many families who were in the NICU with them who did not take their babies home.
“Or would face medical challenges for the rest of their lives,” she said. “We participate in the March for Babies because the research they funded saved our girls, and we want more families to have an ending like ours.”
The March of Dimes celebrated 75 years this year, and has funded research that created the polio vaccine and produced artificial surfactant, a “lung lubricant” without which Hailey and Macy would have experienced lung complications, if they survived the condition.
“Their push for prenatal care is also life-saving,” Bohnke said. “If I had missed my routine appointment, I don’t know if we would even have our girls.”
The Family NICU Support Program was also a great resource for the family, providing them with education, support, memory books, and events to meet other families.
“They hosted sibling Saturdays so Jacoby could come to the hospital and have a special time for him, too,” Bohnke said. “We also met some graduates of the NICU, which was great because it gave me hope that our girls would be OK, too.”
Bohnke started walking for the March for Babies event two years ago as a way to help families by supporting the March of Dimes research. Proceeds from the event benefit preemie awareness, prenatal care and NICU support.
“I am the family team captain for Team Bohnke,” she said. “It is made up of our family and friends. Last year we had 17 walkers and raise about $4,000 for March of Dimes through donations.”
Bohnke hopes her team will raise $10,000 in this year’s 10K walk through downtown Salem, which ends with a barbecue at Salem Hospital. Registration is at 8 a.m. and the walk starts at 9 a.m. at 890 Oak St. SE.
“It’s not a timed event, running is allowed, and strollers and children are encouraged,” she said. “There are many rest stops along the route. My kids went last year, and we will pull them in their wagon this year.”
To join or sponsor Team Bohnke, visit www.marchforbabies.org/kjbohn or for information, e-mail Bohnke at [email protected].
“Help fight prematurity!” Bohnke challenged. “If you donate, the site will give you a chance to print out a tax receipt, as all charity contributions are tax deductible. Businesses that would like to sponsor the team will have a sign at our event as well.”
