Intro

WE CAN! The March of Dimes is proud to serve as the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. At the San Antonio division this translates into supporting vital community services, conducting advocacy and awareness programs and raising funds for ongoing research. I’d like to thank my predecessor, Mary Hogan, for the fabulous job she has done in managing this mission. She has definitely set the bar high. Now as I take the baton, I am excited about the opportunities to make a difference for our community. In these pages you’ll learn more about March of Dimes’ many successes; from conquering polio to life-saving advances in caring for premature babies. There is still much work to be done, and with your support the March of Dimes will continue to champion the needs of newborns.

Yours,
Mark Outlaw

Mark Outlaw
PlainsCapital Bank
Chair-elect of the Board, March of Dimes San Antonio

Tiny Twin Miracles: Ambassadors of Hope

Gary and Valerie Simmons are proud of their beautiful family. Their four children—Adam, the twins Ben and Micah, and Zach—are the picture of health. Looking at them today one could never imagine their lives any other way, but the Simmonses know that if not for the March of Dimes, their family might have been drastically different.

The joyous anticipation Valerie felt carrying the twins turned into fear and anxiety when the twins were born at just 26 weeks’ gestation. Valerie had been hospitalized for three days as doctors tried to prevent the preterm births. She was also given steroids to help speed the babies’ lung development. On December 6, 1999, daughter Micah and son Ben were born by emergency C-section, three months and three days too early.

“As a speech pathologist, I had spent my career caring for children with similar birth stories,” said Valerie Simmons. “I was very aware of the struggles our family was preparing to face. My heart was broken.”

Slim Chance of Survival

At birth, Ben and Micah each weighed slightly more than a pound and a half. The family was overwhelmed by the grim statistics presented to them by the attending neonatologist. Each child had a 25-percent chance of dying. The risk of permanent, severe brain damage was 90 percent. They would likely endure a 30-day stint on ventilators, which could cause irreversible damage to lungs and the brain.

“When I first saw the twins, I could barely look at them without fainting,” recalls Simmons. “They were so tiny and fragile. Survival seemed a remote possibility.”

Simmons will never forget the sight of the twins with tubes and wires protruding from every inch of their translucent skin. Each blood vessel and bone was visible. Their delicate bodies were wrapped in plastic to help maintain their body temperatures. The twins received surfactant therapy, a lifesaving medication developed through March of Dimes funding, which limited their need of ventilators to less than 15 hours each. This short reliance on ventilators was one of the key factors in their ultimate, full recovery. But at that time, questions of survival and quality of life loomed unanswered.

NICU Vigil

Each morning before entering the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), Simmons braced herself for the fresh horrors that waited.

“The daily briefing would detail heart problems, brain problems, kidney trouble, platelet counts, toxicity reports, respiratory and feeding difficulties, as well as life-threatening infections. Endless tests, procedures, medications and blood transfusions would then follow. There were so many obstacles to recovery. “

Simmons also treated the preemies with big doses of motherly love. She relied on a March of Dimes research-recommended technique called “kangaroo care,” which involves holding each baby close, with skin-to-skin contact. “This time of bonding provided me with the hope to continue,” said Simmons.

Million Dollar Babies

Finally, after 77 days the twins were allowed to go home, but there were still many challenges in caring for them. Apnea monitors blared countless times each day and night if a baby forgot to breathe. Each baby was fed by a tube inserted through the nose into the stomach. Eventually they were able to feed from a bottle and nurse. The first three years of the twins’ lives were packed with appointments. Ben and Micah saw multiple specialists, received numerous special medications and participated in many therapy sessions. Their medical care totaled over $1 million each! The Simmonses say they are incredibly grateful to Gary’s employer, Valero, for making their medical care possible.

After such a rough start, the Simmons are elated with the twins’ amazing progress. Both are doing well in school and participate in many extracurricular activities.

“Each of them adds a special dimension to our family,” said Simmons. “Micah hopes to be a neonatologist one day, and Ben is banking on professional baseball!”

In appreciation for how the March of Dimes has impacted their lives, the Simmons signed on as the ambassador family for this year’s Signature Chefs Gala. By sharing their story, the Simmons hope to encourage more community support so that one day no baby will be born too soon or too small.

Prematurity Awareness Month

November is National Prematurity Awareness Month. The goal is to raise awareness that prematurity is the No 1 killer of newborns. Most people think this can’t happen to them, but one in seven babies is born prematurely, and in nearly half the cases the cause is unknown. Most preemies have less developed organs than full-term babies, and those who do survive may suffer lifelong consequences, including cerebral palsy, mental retardation, chronic lung disease and vision and hearing loss.

Several awareness activities will be happening across the nation and locally. Anyone touched by the prematurity crisis is asked to join this effort to educate the community and help save babies from the devastating consequences of premature birth. Since 2003, the March of Dimes’ Prematurity Campaign has been working to stop the rise of premature births with over $83.5 million invested in prematurity-related education and research. Follow the March of Dimes online to find out about activities in your area.

Join the fight for babies during November, National Prematurity Awareness Month

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Visit us on World Wide Web at marchofdimes.com

Chef Rock to Rock Signature Chefs

by Jane Porto-Turner

A serving of celebrity has been added to the menu for this year’s Signature Chefs gala. Chef Rahman “Rock” Harper, the 2007 winner of the FOX-TV reality show Hell’s Kitchen, will spice up the culinary celebration. As March of Dimes’ first national celebrity chef spokesperson, Chef Rock is making the rounds at Signature Chefs events across the nation.

“From a food standpoint it’s been an awesome experience to meet other chefs and enjoy all these different tastes from different parts of the country,” said Chef Rock. “Signature Chefs is also a wonderful event where people can come to hobnob and raise money to save lives.”

The San Antonio gala is set for October 18 at The Vista at Valero Energy Corporation. Many of San Antonio’s top chefs will be presenting their most delicious dishes as well as offering unique dining experience packages for a live auction. Chef Rock is a veteran Signature Chef; the Alexandria, Virginia, native participated in his local March of Dimes event for many years prior to rocketing to fame on reality TV. It was Chef Rock’s own personal reality that inspired him to get involved with the March of Dimes.

“Hell’s Kitchen was nothing compared to what we experienced with the birth of our first child. Now we’re devoted to the good work of the March of Dimes,” explained Chef Rock.

Chef Rock and his wife, Tamara, lost their first child, who was stillborn. Their youngest daughter, Leah, was born prematurely and diagnosed with DiGeorge Syndrome, a serious heart defect. She spent many weeks in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Today Leah is a happy 6-year-old. The Harpers also have a 9-year-old son.

It’s been an incredible journey for Chef Rock. He lost his father at age 2. His mother, a social worker, raised Chef Rock and his three siblings in an impoverished neighborhood in south Alexandria. He acquired his love for cooking by watching his grandmother and mother in the kitchen and through a home economics course in junior high. However, by high school the lure of the streets threatened to derail his future. He was on the verge of flunking out when his mother turned to her church for help. There for the first time Chef Rock met powerful, professional African-Americans who positively impacted his outlook. After high school, he attended culinary school at Johnson and Wales University before embarking on a career as a professional chef. Life has changed dramatically since Chef Rock’s big win on Hell’s Kitchen.

“It’s definitely put me and what I do in the limelight,” noted Chef Rock. “It’s given me an international voice on things I feel strongly about and the opportunity to inspire people.

I’m having a lot of fun with it.”

Chef Rock promises that people attending this year’s Signature Chefs gala will also have a lot of fun. He advises guests to come hungry! “Going to all these restaurants would take months and a lot of money, but at Signature Chefs you will be treated to an amazing culmination of talent in one night,” said Chef Rock.

The devoted March of Dimes volunteer has a lot of other things on his plate as well. “My main thing is to inspire people with similar backgrounds to be as great as they can be, through food, through TV shows, through restaurants, books, however I can reach them.” Fans can keep up with Chef Rock’s latest projects by following him on Twitter and visiting his Web site, chefrockinc.com.

Savor the flavor of San Antonio

Signature Chefs Gala

San Antonio’s finest chefs will showcase their culinary skills at the Signature Chefs Gala being held October 18 at The Vista at Valero Energy Corporation. Guests will have the opportunity to sample the most delectable array of entrées and desserts. The evening includes a lively auction of extraordinary dining packages put together by the Signature Chefs themselves.

Also mingling with the crowd this year will be celebrity guest Chef Rock Harper. Individual tickets are available for $150 and tables for $2,500. Corporate sponsorships are also available.

For more information, contact the March of Dimes at (210) 696-1030.

At time of publication, the list of participating chefs includes:

· Shan Bruns – Las Ramblas at the Hotel Contessa
· Jason Dady – Bin 555/The Lodge/Tre Trattoria
· Steve Warner – Wildfish
· Jonathan Demetrio – Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
· Dwayne Gale – Chart House
· Josh Cross – Oloroso
· Cesar Gallegos – St. Anthony Hotel
· Troy Knapp – Antlers Lodge at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa
· Rashin Mezaharie – Shiraz Restaurant
· Heather Nunez – Bohanan’s
· Shawn Monroe – The RK Group
· Jamie Samford – Winn Meat Company
· Tan Nguyen – Central Market
· Mike Bomberg – Spice of Life
· Ernie Estrada – Francesca’s at Sunset – Westin La Cantera Resort
· Enrique Perez – Marriott Plaza

Folic Acid

Recipe for a Healthy Pregnancy

Folic acid is a B vitamin that can help prevent birth defects of the brain and spinal cord, called neural tube defects. Folic acid works to prevent these birth defects only if taken before conception and during early pregnancy. That’s why the March of Dimes recommends all women of childbearing age consume 400 micrograms of folic acid daily. Folic acid can be found in foods such as the following:

· Fortified breakfast cereals
· Avocado
· Asparagus
· Orange juice
· Broccoli
· Spinach
· Enriched breads and pasta
· Black beans
· Romaine lettuce
· Peanuts
· Vitamin containing folic acid

Here is a delicious, folic acid-laden recipe from Chef Rock Harper that you are sure to enjoy!

Crispy Sautéed Branzino with "rice and peas" and savory spinach

Rice and peas:
8 ounces dried kidney beans, rinsed and picked over (about 1 1/4 cups)
3 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
6 cups cold water
1 (14-ounce) can coconut milk
4 large sprigs fresh thyme
3 scallions, ends trimmed, smashed with the side of a knife
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 whole Scotch bonnet pepper, pierced with a paring knife
3 cups enriched long-grain rice

In a large saucepan, combine the beans with the garlic and 6 cups cold water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, cover the pot and continue to cook the beans until just beginning to soften, about 30 minutes. Add the coconut milk and thyme and continue cooking until the beans are soft, 45 minutes to 1 hour longer.

Add the scallions, oil, salt, Scotch bonnet, and stir to combine.

Cover and let sit until scallion has softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Return liquid to a boil and add the rice to the pot. Stir to combine well and return to a boil. Stir once again, cover the pot, reduce heat to low and cook, stirring once after about 5 minutes, until rice has absorbed the liquid and is tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside to sit, undisturbed, for 10 minutes. Remove the pepper, scallions, and thyme sprigs, fluff with a fork, and serve.

Branzino:
2 tablespoons olive oil
8 (6-ounce) portions skin-on black bass
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground white pepper
1 cup ground corn flakes

Set a 12-inch saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil. Use a sharp knife to score the skin of the fish with 2 or 3 diagonal slits that pierce the skin only (this will keep the skin from curling as it cooks). Season the fish with the salt and pepper and dip in the flour.

Shake off the excess flour and place the fish, skin side down in the saute pan. Cook until the fish begins to caramelize, about 3 minutes.

Turn the fish over and cook for 2 minutes.

Spinach:
1 1/2 pounds spinach leaves— washed and picked free of stems
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped garlic (3 cloves)
1 tablespoon chopped shallot (1 shallot)
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Lemon

In a very large pot, heat the olive oil and saute the garlic and shallots over medium heat for about 1 minute, but not until it's browned. Add all the spinach, the salt, and pepper to the pot, toss it with the garlic and oil, cover the pot, and cook it for 2 minutes.

Uncover the pot, turn the heat on high, and cook the spinach for another minute, stirring with a wooden spoon, until all the spinach is wilted. Using a slotted spoon, lift the spinach to a serving bowl and top with a squeeze of lemon, and a sprinkling of kosher salt. Serve hot.

Volunteer Spotlight: Health Care Heroes

From the beginning volunteers have been vital to the success of the March of Dimes mission. People from diverse careers bring their the skill sets to work hand-in-hand with the March of Dimes in a variety of ways, such as serving on committees, helping with fundraising, staffing events, office administration and much more. As an agency dedicated to improving the health of babies, March of Dimes draws a great deal of support from the healthcare field. Two local healthcare heroes were recently nominated for a March of Dimes state level awards competition based on their exemplary community service: Capt. Aimee Alviar, a women’s health nurse practitioner at Wilford Hall, and Dr. Donald Dudley, an obstetrician at UT Health Science Center.

Capt. Alviar joined the Air Force with the desire to make a difference in the world. “Growing up, my parents instilled in me to treat others the way I would like to be treated and to always give back to the community,” said Alviar. “Being in the nursing profession has definitely allowed me to do this. I really enjoy taking care of pregnant women.”

At Wilford Hall, Alviar helps run CenteringParenting®. The program funded by the March of Dimes provides prenatal care in a group setting. Alviar finds it to be an uplifting experience. “A woman in one group was having a hard time with her husband being deployed,” recalls Alviar. “All the women in the group rallied around her by volunteering to watch her child, providing furniture and giving her the emotional support she needed at that time in her life.”

Dr. Dudley shares that passion for taking care of women during pregnancy. “The next generation of Americans deserves the best possible care so that our society can continue to advance and improve,” said Dudley. “I will do whatever I can to promote the health of pregnant women, and community service is one important way to accomplish this.”

The physician is also excited about the role he has played in reviewing programs and developing studies to better understand environmental determinants of child health and disease. His profession and personal values are a natural complement to the work of the March of Dimes. “They are devoted to improving pregnancy outcomes. I am too,” said Dudley. “What better way to make our society better than by helping women to have healthy babies, who then turn into healthy and productive adults? The ripple effects are extraordinary!”

The March of Dimes salutes Capt. Alviar and Dr. Dudley along with the entire volunteer corps for bringing us closer to the day that every baby gets a healthy start in life. If you are interested in learning more about specific volunteer opportunities in San Antonio, contact the March of Dimes at (210) 696-1030.

San Antonio March for Babies Walks On!

Sunshine, laughter, fantastic entertainment and a shared sense of purpose helped get this year’s March for Babies off on the right foot. The major fund-raiser for March of Dimes has grown so large that it had to be held at a new location this year, Port San Antonio. The move proved to be timely as the 2009 March for Babies drew a record-breaking crowd of over 9,000!

This year’s emcee, KSAT-TV’s Ursula Pari, kicked off the day with a stage program recognizing the event’s top sponsors, including premier sponsor, Citi, and presenting sponsors Capital Group and H-E-B. “It is wonderful to see the community come together as corporate teams, family teams and individual walkers,” said Norman Wright, executive vice president of Citibank Client Services and the 2009 March for Babies chair. “Citi is proud to participate in this meaningful event, and we look forward to the day that every baby gets a healthy start in life.”

A big highlight of this year’s March for Babies was the musical entertainment. The program included the introduction of American Idol finalist Haley Scarnato as this year’s San Antonio Team Youth Celebrity Ambassador. The festive atmosphere continued along the route as several bands kept walkers dancing down the path. Kalu and the Woodsters capped off the day’s entertainment with catchy educational songs for the kids.

Preparations are already under way for next year’s March for Babies. The March of Dimes is looking for people interested in:

• sponsorship
• forming a team
• volunteering
• logistics support
• providing musical entertainment

If you want to get involved, contact the March of Dimes at (210) 696-1030.

Haley’s Comet Shines At March for Babies

by Jane Porto-Turner

Rising star Haley Scarnato brought some extra magic to this year’s March for Babies. The American Idol alum and San Antonio native embraced her role as the San Antonio Team Youth Celebrity Ambassador and opened the event by singing the national anthem. We recently caught up with Haley to learn about her support of the March of Dimes and future plans.

How did you come to be involved with the March for Babies?
I want to give back to the community by doing things that are hands-on, and I support the March of Dimes mission to give more babies a healthy start. Also, one of my best friends has a child with cerebral palsy and has been touched by the March of Dimes, so I had that personal connection.

Did anything surprise you at the event?
The crowd! I know that San Antonio really supports charities, but I didn’t realize it was that huge. It was amazing to see.

What did you enjoy most about the day?
The meet and greet with families and their kids. A lot of kids recognized me and were so excited. It’s nice how something so small can bring a smile to a child’s face. I also got to walk the route a little and mingle with the crowd. That was really cool.

What are you doing now?
I’m still in between labels but I’ve cut three songs in Nashville. Hopefully, this album will be released soon. In the meantime, I’m doing several shows and helping charities to which I have a personal connection.

How can fans keep up with you?
We are working on my Web site www.haleyscarnato.me, and it should be up and running soon.

Texas Legend Augie Meyers:

How Polio Led Him to the Healing Power of Music

by Jane Porto-Turner

Celebrated Texas musicians recently jammed together at a very special concert benefiting the March of Dimes. The Texas Music Extravaganza, sponsored by Farmers Insurance Group, included talents such as Flaco Jimenez, Raul Malo, Shawn Sahm, The Krayolas and Adam Aguilar. Topping the bill was the legendary Augie Meyers; the Grammy Award-winning artist whose distinctive keyboard sound helped create the TexMex genre has a special passion for the work of the March of Dimes. That’s because as a child he was afflicted with polio, a disease that has practically disappeared from the U.S. thanks to a vaccine developed through the March of Dimes.

“I got polio when I was 2 and I didn’t walk until I was 10,” said Meyers.

Born in 1940, Meyers was raised by his grandparents at their farmhouse in Saint Hedwig, Texas, a small town southeast of San Antonio. The Salk vaccine would not be introduced until the mid 1950s, so Meyers’ family was one of millions desperately seeking help.

“I remember hearing my dad say he was trying to get me into some program (through another agency), but he didn’t make enough money,” recalls Meyers. “He only made about $3500 a year and they wanted people who made money and had friends who could donate.”

Doctors didn’t hold out much hope for Meyers. He wore a heavy leg brace for a period of time and at one point a doctor suggested cutting off his leg. The family avoided such drastic measures and Meyers’ grandfather even conceived his own treatment plan. He scraped the mud from mud dauber wasp nests and made it into a paste that he faithfully applied to Meyers’ paralyzed leg and arm and covered with cheesecloth. “My grandfather also hired a lady to come in every other day to rub my leg and arm with rubbing alcohol for 10 cents an hour. Sometimes when she finished he’d come up with another 10 cents and pay her for an extra hour,” remembers Meyers. The treatments went on for several years and while they weren’t curative Meyers says he found them very therapeutic.

n a strange twist of fate, Meyers’ struggle with polio would lead him to his musical destiny. He tended to wander around, so for his safety his grandparents tied a six-foot rope to his leg and connected it to their piano. “My grandpa would leave me a pie pan with some water and biscuits, and that’s how I learned to play piano,” said Meyers.

His musical inclinations also got a boost from some colorful neighbors who were part of a band. “Every Saturday a bus would pull up, and they’d put their instruments, in and they were always laughing and drinking,” said Meyers. “I told my mom that’s what I wanted to do because it looked like they were having a lot of fun!” Meyers formed his first band in his early teens and never looked back. He’s enjoyed great success with the bands Sir Douglas Quintet and Texas Tornadoes, and as a solo artist. The numerous hits under his belt include Hey Baby Que Paso, Adios Mexico, She’s About a Mover, “Suzie Q, and many others. He’s performed around the world several times over and worked with musical icons like Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and Tom Waits.

Meyers still has vestiges from his bout with polio, but he’s never seen it as an obstacle. “My motto is ‘life balances out’; if something bad happens look for something good,” said Meyers. “I appreciate what I get and I run with it.”

Meyers really does keep a fast pace. He’s got gigs lined up across the country and a new Texas Tornadoes album soon to be released. In the midst of this busy schedule he still finds time to write.

“At night when I’m sleeping I see myself on stage singing a song I’ve never sung before, but I like it, so I get up and write it,” said Meyers. When asked what his favorite song is, he answered, “the one I haven’t written yet.”

Aside from music, Meyers is currently writing a book about his phenomenal career. Information about Meyers’ latest activities can be found online at www.augiemeyers.com. Fans that missed Meyers’ performance at the Texas Music Extravaganza can catch a replay on KLRN during the station’s December 2009 pledge and membership drive.

Board of Directors

Brenda Baldwin
Dr. Isabel Basaldu
Dr. Dianna Burns
Susan Caster
Glenn Errhalt
Patrina Fowler
Sandy Friedman
Phyllis Gallay
Lisa Garcia-Watkins
Christie Goodman
Shannon Gunn
Mary Rozar Hogan Board Chair ‘08-’09
Robin Hughes
Charles L. Knight
Steven Krauskopf
Joe Leal
Mark Outlaw Board Chair-Elect
Chris Price
Maria Sanchez-Wallace
Gary Simmons
Kevin Wherry

Staff

Sheila Austin Director of Program Services
KJ Delgado Assistant Community Director
Lisa Shelley Office Manager
Angela Wentink Communications Coordinator
Shawne Zakaria Division Director

San Antonio Division
7400 Blanco Road, Suite 129
San Antonio, TX 78216

210.696.1030
210.694.0577 (fax)

marchofdimes.com
nacersano.org