Madie Gnemi, daughter of Adam and Randi Rae Gnemi of Greenwood, is a happy, energetic 14-month-old.
She goos and gahs, stringing sounds together as she attempts to figure out talking. She claps, plays with the family’s dachshund and does little dances when she’s excited.
Other than measuring a little smaller for her age, no one would suspect now that Madie’s entry into the world was much rougher than the norm.
Madie was born prematurely at 26 weeks on Feb. 1, 2013.
Randi Rae developed a severe case of pre-eclampsia, which occurs when a pregnant woman develops high blood pressure. Her diagnosis was life-threatening to her and to Madie.
Randi Rae had had a problem-free pregnancy until then.
“I just started swelling a little bit,” she said. “My friend checked my blood pressure, and it was just steadily rising.”
Randi Rae went to the hospital where she planned to deliver, River Oaks in Flowood, to see her doctor.
“I thought I was just going to get checked out,” she said. “But little did I know that 12 hours later, Madie would come.”
Randi Rae stayed overnight. In the morning, she found out the severity of the situation.
“I knew it was a possibility,” she said. “When the new nurse came in at 7 a.m. that morning, she explained how severe it was if something was not done. If my levels did not look better, I was going to die.”
And her condition continued to worsen.
“My kidneys and liver were shutting down,” she said. “In order to save both of us, they had to go on and take her.”
That afternoon, Randi Rae had an emergency caesarean section, and at 3:29 p.m., Madie was born.
“As soon as she was born, the doctor said, ‘It’s a miracle,’” Randi Rae said. “He asked what her name was, and, from then on, she’s been Miracle Madie. That’s what we call her.”
A full-term pregnancy is typically 39 to 40 weeks. When Madie was born at 26 weeks, she was the size of a 24-week-old fetus. Her tiny stature was caused by her umbilical cord being double wrapped around her neck, causing a lack of circulation.
She weighed 1 pound and 7 ounces and was 11 inches long.
“She wasn’t even as long as a sheet of paper,” said Randi Rae.
Madie had another long journey ahead, and so did her family.
“They wouldn’t give us a survival rate until she was about 2½ months old,” Randi Rae said. “They wouldn’t tell us if she was going to make it.”
Madie was born with underdeveloped lungs, two holes in her heart, eye problems and a slow heart rate, all of which are common for premature babies.
Although Randi Rae had one steroid injection to help develop Madie’s lungs, there was not enough time for the second shot needed. They continued the medication for her lungs after she was born. Madie also had multiple blood transfusions and was on diuretics, sodium shots and caffeine shots to help with her heart rate. She had surgery for her eye condition.
“If it wasn’t corrected at an early age, she would have possibly gone blind,” said Randi Rae.
Madie was also on medication for the holes in her heart, which closed when she was 6 months old.
“All preemies have a hole in their heart that usually closes when they are born,” Randi Rae said. “Madie’s did not close, and she had two of them.”
Madie spent 103 days in the neonatal intensive care unit at River Oaks. Adam and Randi Rae rotated between staying at the hospital and commuting back and forth from their home in Greenwood.
At 5 pounds and 4 ounces, Madie was finally ready to go home.
The Gnemis are thankful for their miracle baby and are giving back this year to the foundation that played a crucial role in Madie’s survival.
The March of Dimes has been improving survival rates of premature babies and preventing deaths through fundraising, research and awareness campaigns since 1979.
On Saturday, the Greenwood Leflore Hospital will host its annual March for Babies walk.
The event is a celebration of the March of Dimes and a fundraiser for the foundation.
“So many people in our community have had premature babies,” said Allison Faulkner of Greenwood Leflore Hospital. “They believe in what the March of Dimes does, and it affects your life.”
There will be children’s activities, including a bounce house, face painting, a fire truck and a kids’ zone. There will also be a stroller-wagon- and bike-decorating competition.
Organizers are encouraging tailgating at the walking track with tents and chairs.
There will be music, snacks, hamburgers, cookies and drinks. A walk around the track will also be held.
Businesses can purchase a yard sign to be posted along the walking track by donating $100. The signs will have the logo and name of the business supporting the March of Dimes.
“We want to give another baby a chance at life by supporting the March of Dimes,” said Randi Rae. “You never know when it could be yours.”
To learn more information or to purchase a yard sign, call Misti Vaughn, chairman of the event, at 392-2300.
• Contact Ruthie Robison at 581-7233 or rrobison@gwcommonwealth.com.
