SUPPORT THE MISSION
Meet our 2015 Signature Chefs Auction Ambassador, Savannah McClary. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or more commonly referred to as “NICU” was a foreign term to the McClary family, a world we knew nothing about, until our daughter entered the world 3 months early. On July 5, 2013, we went for a scheduled "growth watch" ultra sound at 1:00pm. We were 27 weeks gestational and it was discovered that all of the fluid in the umbilical cord was in reverse. At 2:38pm, following an ambulance ride to the hospital and putting mom under anesthesia, Savannah Grace was born. She weighed 1lb 2oz and was 11.5in in length.
After 109 days, the NICU is no longer a foreign term to us. We might define it a little bit different than others, because it was the place where we watched our daughter fight for her life, day after day, hour after hour. Her feeds and medications were given through her feeding tube. She endured CPR on 3 different occasions within a 24 hour period and a few blood transfusions.
On October 21st, we brought Savannah (Savvy G) home, weighing 5lbs on the dot. She came home on oxygen and still required a feeding tube. For 2.5 months she was excelling at home. Unfortunately, that came to a quick halt when she aspirated into her lungs. On January 19, 2104, Savannah was admitted into the PICU at Akron Children's. We never would have believed it then, but she was there for 120 days. In those 4 months, she underwent nitric oxide therapy and multiple surgeries.
Today, Savvy G is a feisty, extremely busy, and in-charge two year old. She requires 24 hour care, so we have nurses coming and going each day to assist in her care. With the grace of God and her team of doctors, our daughter has a very optimistic outlook for her future. We are proud to be representing the March of Dimes and sharing our story in hopes that other mothers and fathers won't have to experience prematurity and the complications it can cause and some day, every baby is born healthy.
