2012 National Ambassador: Kieran Wittstruck

"My husband, Shane, and I never once thought of pregnancy as a life-or-death event," Shalini Wittstruck recalls. "Then one day our lives and all our expectations changed."

Their son, Kieran, was born at 31 weeks, weighing just 3lbs., 1 oz. He spent the first month of his life in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU), battling anemia, jaundice, apnea, bradycardia, a heart murmur and a brain cyst. With medical advances supported by the March of Dimes, Kieran pulled through.

Now 5 years old, Kieran still flips expectations on their head. Outside his home near Seattle, he likes to ride his bike and swim. He also is a budding mechanical engineer and is always working on his next great invention. And if that wasn't enough, he even runs his own cat spy agency: MEOWS!

From his difficult start to the creative kindergartner he is today, Kieran's story is a happy one. "We are thankful every day for how far he has come," says Shane.

"I didn't think premature birth could happen to me, but it did," says Shalini, who has served as co-chair for the Cigna March for Babies(R) team in Seattle since 2007. "We need the March of Dimes to make sure it won't happen to you."

As the 2012 National Ambassador, Kieran will travel the country with his parents, sharing his story and raising awareness.

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  Nonprofits & Activism

[mylovesofmylife]

cute

[lucylue1982]

My miracle babies were born at 27 weeks 2 days after being an hopital bedrest for 5 weeks trying to keep them in. Nathen weighed 2lbs 3oz stayed in the Nicu for 4 months Aiden weighed 1lb 9oz stayes in the Nicu for 3 months. October they will be 5. It is amazing what these little babies can do.

[Evelyn Martinez]

Wow such an amazing story. I can relate because my son was born at 25 week. He spent 4 months in the NNICU. And I was only 17 years old.

[mbrundage23]

My water fully ruptured at 19 weeks. We were told it wasn't a viable pregnancy until 24 weeks and were advised to terminate. Our baby had a heartbeat, I just couldn't terminate. At 24 weeks, I was admitted into the hospital. 3 days later, my placenta tore. I made it to 29 weeks! William was born at (first weight 2# 3oz) then we were told he was 3# 2oz. He is now almost 3 years old!

[Mansi Shivnani]

It is so amazing to see Kieran grow after such a struggle as a small baby! I'm sure he'll grow into a wonderful young man.