When Telisa Britt became pregnant with twin girls in October 2006, she knew it was going to be a high-risk pregnancy right from the start.
Telisa and her husband, Michael Britt, had trouble conceiving and, after trying fertility drugs and an intrauterine insemination, the couple finally conceived through in vitro fertilization.
The babies were due July 5, 2007, but because of her age — Telisa was 36 at the time and the optimum age to have children is between 20 and 34 — her high blood pressure and the fact that she was carrying twins, doctors told her to expect an early birth.
Telisa visited the doctor about every two weeks because of her blood pressure, but for the first few months the pregnancy was normal.
The Britts, who live in Carrollton, knew they would need to go to Jackson when the time came because there is no neonatal intensive care — or NIC — unit in this area.
So when Telisa began experiencing bleeding and back pain early in the morning on March 27, 2007, she immediately went down and checked into the Woman’s Hospital at River Oaks in Jackson.
Doctors discovered that one of the amniotic sacks had ruptured, so Telisa remained at the hospital and underwent sonograms nearly every day.
“Michael was still in Greenwood working at Southside Auto Parts, but I always had someone with me because I never knew when I could go into labor,” Telisa said.
On April 20, 2007, Telisa went into labor, and the girls, McKenzie and Macy, were delivered by emergency caesarean section. They were only 29 weeks, or about six months, old. McKenzie weighed 2 pounds, 13 ounces, and Macy weighed 2 pounds, 7 ounces.
Macy was not breathing when she was born, and it was several days before she was stabilized. The doctors told the Britts to prepare for the worst because they were not sure if she would survive.
Michael explained that the doctors allowed them to have much more contact with Macy at first than they normally allow in the NIC unit because they weren’t sure if she would make it, then later they became more strict.
“I think she was on every church prayer list in Mississippi probably,” Telisa said.
Though the doctors feared most for Macy’s life, about a week after the girls were born, it was McKenzie who became sick unexpectedly. She had developed necrotizing enterocolitis, a type of stomach infection that mostly affects premature infants.
The River Oaks staff attempted to stabilize her enough to be moved to another hospital, but her condition never improved. McKenzie passed away on April 29, 2007.
Macy’s health was still being closely monitored, and doctors told the couple she would probably have to remain at the hospital for a minimum of eight weeks.
“After about two weeks she just got better and better,” Michael said.
Macy’s parents stayed in Jackson the entire time during her recovery. Eventually, they were allowed to hold, feed, change and dress her, and on June 25, 2007, they got to take her home.
They stocked up on Germex and had to be careful about protecting her from infection at all times. Doctors advised them to keep her at home for the most part and away from too many people during her first year, but so far, things have gone well.
“She’s had one earache. That’s all that’s been wrong with her since she’s been home,” Michael said.
Macy is now 9 months old, healthy and developing normally.
It was soon after they got back to Carrollton when the Britts were approached about being the 2008 March of Dimes Ambassador Family.
“We are always looking for families that have been touched by the March of Dimes,” said Melanie Nixon, March of Dimes community director. “This year, a veteran team captain, Misti Vaughn, at the Greenwood Children’s Clinic knew the Britt family personally and asked if they would mind being this year’s Ambassador Family.”
For the next year, the Britts will work with the March of Dimes and serve as representatives. To them, Macy is proof that the research the organization funds is extremely worthwhile.
Still, even though their daughter is now healthy, the couple still has questions.
“We asked, ‘What happened? What went wrong?’” Telisa said.
The March of Dimes has been trying to help families answer those very questions for years.
The National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, an organization dedicated to fighting the polio epidemic, was created in 1938 by Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was afflicted with the disease himself.
Through funding from the National Foundation, Dr. Jonas Salk was able to develop the polio vaccine, which drastically reduced cases of polio worldwide and nearly eliminated the disease in the Western Hemisphere.
In 1979, the organization became officially known as the March of Dimes.
These days, despite advances in modern medicine and improved prenatal care, thousands of babies like McKenzie are still lost each year during their first few weeks of life. The most common causes of neonatal deaths are premature births and birth defects, and in many cases, doctors are unable to determine the reason for either.
Through fundraising, research and awareness campaigns, the March of Dimes is dedicated to improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects and premature births.
Greenwood residents can get involved with the organization by participating in the March for Babies event and raising money to help families like the Britts.
“Our event name is different, but our mission remains the same,” Nixon said. “WalkAmerica is now March for Babies. It is a great change because it makes very clear who we are walking for — all babies.”
The local March for Babies event will be held May 10 at Greenwood Leflore Hospital. The kick-off luncheon was held Friday, but it is never too late to sign up, Nixon said.
For more information, contact Melanie Nixon at (601) 933-1071 or mnixon@marchofdimes.com.
