Charlotte March of Dimes helps save babies' lives

CHARLOTTE, NC — People gathered in uptown Charlotte Saturday morning with the passion for improving the health of babies.

The annual March for Babies, which started at Romare Bearden Park, benefits premature babies and new moms.

Channel 9 anchor Erica Bryant hosted the event.

[IMAGES: March of Dimes March for Babies in Uptown Charlotte]

The average cost of having a baby that’s born at full term is about $5,000. That number shoots up to about $50,000 for every baby born premature.

So, imagine what it was like for the Bonner family in Charlotte that had five all born premature at the same time.

“I couldn’t be a happier,” said Mitch Bonner. “It’s definitely a whirlwind of a journey but [I] wouldn’t change it for the world.”

A critical part of the journey happened in the neonatal intensive care unit at Novant Health, where the babies spent 82 days after being born 10-weeks premature.

“They were my babies laying in a box fighting for their lives, and as a parent you want to do everything you can and protect them, and I couldn’t do anything,” Carolynn Bonner explained.

But, the medical experts could thanks to the March of Dimes.

“It’s the March for Babies that allows us to have the funding to find the life-saving treatments, the prematurity preventing screening options, as well as the resources to help support those who can’t support themselves,” explained Dr. Navin Bhojwani.

Now, as they watch Ben, Aubrey, Carter, and Emily play, their parents also remember Dylan, their fifth baby.

“He passed away very unexpectedly about 30 minutes after he was born, and March of Dimes helps with that too. They have support systems for parents who have lost babies,” said Carolynn.

The Bonners say they hope their family story inspires everyone to support the non-profit.

“I would say to get involved to give every child the start that ours had,” said Carolynn.

Cox Media Group