AMBASSADOR FAMILY - THE ANTHONY FAMILY
After the loss of their first child, Samuel, who was born at just 20 weeks but did not survive birth, Diane and Dave Anthony knew they would have a high-risk pregnancy. The hospital became a second home to Diane, who was due to have her twins in July of 2005. Diane was placed on bedrest for 5 weeks, and on April 1, 2005 at just 26 weeks and 4 days, she went into labor.
Diane was given magnesium at 5:00am, but that stopped around 2:30PM when she tore her cervix and a surclage was place. At this point, The Anthony Family knew that anything could happen at this point with her children. Diane was given surfactant therapy to support the twins’ lungs, a medical treatment researched and funded by March of Dimes. Not long after, Jacob and Katelyn Anthony were born weighing 2lbs, 12 inches and 2lbs, 13 inches.
The Anthony’s journey in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), began immediately following Jacob and Katelyn’s births.. Like so many families, Diane and Dave were left with questions, concerns, and worry about the unknown of the NICU. They understood Jacob and Katelyn would need to grow and develop, but what they didn’t know was the length of their NICU stay and the emotional toll it would take on them as new parents.
In addition to surfactant, Katelyn received nitric oxide. Jacob’s journey in the NICU was a little more complex, facing everything from NEC, jaundice, and laser eye surgery. After 5 weeks in the NICU, Katelyn made a turn for the worst. After becoming septic, Katelyn passed on Mother’s Day of 2005 after NICU doctors did all they could to save her. Her brother, Jacob, was finally able to come home to his family after 111 days in the NICU at 4 months old and weighing only 6 lbs. Jacob is now a thriving teenager who has visitedd the NICU for his birthday in honor of his sister and journey.
Jacob and Katelyn are like the 1 in 10 babies in the U.S. that are born too soon. Preterm birth is the leading cause of newborn death, and babies who survive an early birth may face long-term health challenges. Diane and Dave know the significant role March of Dimes plays in raising awareness and funds to find solutions to end preventable preterm births and death. The Anthony’s look forward to sharing their story as the 2023 Pittsburgh Signature Chefs Feeding Motherhood Ambassador Family on Monday, November 6 at the Westin in Downtown Pittsburgh.
