March for Babies set for April 27

BY JOY ROSEBERRY 

ASST. MANAGING EDITOR 

DARKE COUNTY—Sonnie Rhoades introduced her granddaughter, Ruth Ann Carity, to those attending the Darke County March for Babies kickoff with: “If you think March of Dimes doesn’t really do anything, I want you to know, it goes to real people and it goes to real babies. The March of Dimes research saved her [Ruth Ann] life.”

Ruth Ann, 2013 March for Babies Darke County Youth Ambassador, was born 13 weeks early after her mother, Marie, developed HELLP Syndrome, a life-threatening pregnancy complication usually considered to be a variant of preeclampsia. The baby has to be taken to save the mom’s life.

“I thought, this is not going to have a good outcome. But it did.”

Ruth Ann was due on Cinco de Mayo, however, born on Groundhog Day. She weighed 1 pound, 11.5 ounces, survived complications from an open valve in her heart and was intubated for her first six weeks. She came home on Father’s Day and got off oxygen on Thanksgiving. Today she is a thriving, health little girl.

If you would like to be a part of this story, and the story of many, many others, consider participating in this year’s March for Babies on April 27. The 5.5 mile route will begin and end at the Darke County Fairgrounds.

For more information on this year’s walk, visit marchforbabies.org, or contact one of this year’s Darke County Co-Chairs, Shawn Daugherty, vice president and chief lending officer at Greenville Federal, or Bill LaFramboise, executive vice president at GTI. 

Ruth Ann, with grandmother Sonnie Rhoades and aunt Emily Clark. Ruth Ann’s family formed the Girls Galore and More Team, which walks every year in the local March for Babies. Emily directs the Wonder Walks at local schools. “We’ve all gotten involved since Ruth Ann came along, said Sonnie. They invite the community to do the same.