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After a two-month experience in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital, Ashley Hiller and her husband, Jacob, knew they wanted to do something to help other parents who were going through they kind of ordeal they had faced.

After a two-month experience in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital, Ashley Hiller and her husband, Jacob, knew they wanted to do something to help other parents who were going through they kind of ordeal they had faced. Their son, Easton, was born early, at nearly 30 weeks, and weighing only a little over 2 pounds. He was cared for 24 hours a day by the NICU doctors, nurses and staff for 60 days before he could go home.

So this year, Ashley, a PACU nurse at Geisinger Woodbine Lane, and Jacob, an X-ray technician at Geisinger Medical Center, participated in the Susquehanna Valley March For Babies® sponsored by the March of Dimes® Foundation. The Hiller family marched with nearly 40 Woodbine Lane employees as part of their team — the Woodbine Walkers. Easton was the official Woodbine Walkers Ambassador for 2017.

The event held Sunday, May 7, began and ended at the Geisinger Medical Center campus in Danville. The Woodbine Walkers team, captained by Geisinger employees Terry Mumma and Patti Trump, set a goal of raising $2,000, and team members fundraised individually and through events like a bake sale at the Woodbine facility. Ten teams of Geisinger employees participated in the Susquehanna Valley March for Babies.

“As a nurse, I knew what Easton was facing and I had some knowledge of what the March of Dimes was all about and how much they do to help prevent premature birth and to assist families of preemies,” Ms. Hiller said. “We couldn’t march last year because Easton wasn’t strong enough yet, but this year we were there.”

She said that one of her main reasons for marching was to show families that there can be a “nice picture” at the end of the struggle that premature babies face. “We want other parents to be encouraged by the progress that we, with the help of the NICU staff and our family and friends, have made over these past 17 months. I think it’s important to us to reach out to members of our community in many ways. You never know when someone is hurting or hungry or just in need of a little support. Every little bit helps.”

If you would like more information about the March of Dimes or would like to make a donation, visit
MarchForBabies.org or call 610-814-7000.
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