Wednesday, April 24, 2002
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Wednesday, April 24, 2002 |
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Peachtree City triplets to lead WalkAmerica By CAROLYN
CARY
Jacob Matthew Duben, Tyler August Duben and Lea Marie Duben will be leading the March of Dimes WalkAmerica this Saturday. They have been chosen as Youth Ambassadors for 2002. Through the years, youth ambassadors have played an important role in spreading the message about the March of Dimes fight to save babies. The Peachtree City triplets were born 10 weeks prematurely May 21 of last year. Born just two minutes apart, Jacob weighed in at 2 lbs. 14 oz; Tyler was 3 lbs.; and Lea weighed 2 lbs. 6 oz. They were at Southern Regional Hospital's Woman's Life Center for five weeks. Parents Jeanette and Matt Duben were on hand to help feed and look after their babies and to begin the bonding process needed for around-the-clock care. When born, they were all suffering from respiratory distress syndrome and had to be intubated and placed on a ventilator. RDS is the inability for the small sacs in the babies' lungs to re-inflate due to a lack of material called surfactant. Premature babies are often not yet able to produce this substance in sufficient quantities and it has to be given to them through their windpipes. "We owe so much to the March of Dimes," said Jeanette. "The years of research and support by so many others allowed our babies to have the instant care, diagnosis and medicines they needed instantly." The babies had to be fed every three hours when they first came home, and in order to introduce them to the great outdoors, they were often fed on the front porch. They are walked twice a day in their all-in-one stroller and their faces light up as soon as they head outside. Matt said that they intend to walk the entire 6.2 miles unless Jacob, Tyler or Lea have other ideas along the way. "We are helping the March of Dimes save babies," said the Dubens, "and we want everyone in Fayette County to help us save them, too." Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the Walk is at 10 a.m. It will begin at Shakerag Knoll, in the amphitheater complex, and the route will take participants through the golf car paths of Peachtree City and end back up at Shakerag Knoll where everyone will enjoy refreshments and relaxation.
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