Blue Jeans for Babies kickoff party Tuesday, Aug. 26

By Anastasia Harbuck

Published: August 20, 2008

Heather Philips of Eufaula supported Blue Jeans for Babies even before her son was born.

But when little Robert was born at 32 weeks, the program became personal for Philips.

“I would buy a shirt (for Blue Jeans for Babies) every year,” she said. “But you never think it’s going to be you or your baby.”

Robert turned 1 on Aug. 8, and is now a bright-eyed, healthy toddler. But Philips won’t forget those first few terrifying days her tiny son was at UAB.

“Scary … it’s really scary,” she says.

Philips recalls the first time she held her baby boy - he weighed only 3 pounds and 12 ounces. But she says Robert was one of the lucky ones as she recalls the smaller, more fragile babies she saw at UAB.

“You think your baby’s small, but then you see smaller babies. I met parents whose baby had just reached 2 pounds,” says Philips.

Philips will share her family’s story at a Blue Jeans for Babies kickoff party Tuesday at 12 p.m. at the Eufaula-Barbour County Chamber of Commerce.

The event will promote Blue Jeans for Babies new statewide day on Friday, Nov. 14. Marilyn Starling, the March of Dimes Division Director for the Wiregrass region, says that this is the first year Blue Jeans for Babies will be held on the same day throughout the state.

Last year, the event was held during the month of February, but this year Starling says the event was moved to coincide with National Prematurity Day Nov. 12. All Blue Jeans for Babies supporters and sponsors will also wear the same navy t-shirts on Nov. 14.

The kickoff party is sponsored by Medical Center Barbour, American Buildings and Crowne Health Care. Johna Cotton of Eufaula Pediatric Clinic will speak about the importance of March of Dimes and Blue Jeans for Babies. During the party, representatives can volunteer their companies as sponsors for the event.

For a company to have its logo on the Blue Jeans for Babies t-shirts, a business can make donations ranging from $250 - 1,500. A company can donate $100 to have just its name on the t-shirt. T-shirts are $15 each. The deadline to make donations is Sept. 29.

This year, the fundraising goal for the Wiregrass area this year is $75,000 with Barbour County’s goal at $20,000. The event will even including a rotating trophy this year going to the company that raises the most money. Starling is confident Barbour County can reach this sum - the county is one of the top contributors to March of Dimes.

“Our division has always raised the most money,” she says. “People here love to support March of Dimes.”

Philips and little Robert are “ambassadors” for March of Dimes. Though Robert still has to take daily breathing treatments and is prone to ear infections, Philips says aside from that, he’s perfectly healthy.

For parents with premature babies, Philips says, “Don’t give up.”