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2007 Sports Fantasy e-Auction Ambassador
Mattias Brandenburger

On December 21, 2003 Mattias was born at 6:49 am.  With an apgar score of 0 at birth he was immediately intubated and taken to the NICU.  His condition stabilized that day, however within forty-eight hours of his birth my husband and I received the call no parent wants to receive:  "Mr. & Mrs. Brandenburger, could you please get to the NICU right away.  We don't know what is going to happen."

Mattias was extremely ill and the tests confirmed he had e-coli blood sepsis, pneumonia (allowing fluid to build up in his lungs), extreme jaundice, PDA and a Grade IV IVH (Intra ventricular brain hemorrhage).  The medical staff had lost all IV access to his veins that day so medications that could be administered to him were quite limited.  As that bleak day wore on they were finally able to establish a PIC line (central catheter) so they could administer all the medications and fluids he so vitally needed.  The next two weeks dragged as we watched six different monitors tracking the administration of medications to our tiny baby.  Due primarily to the skill of the staff, and intensive care & treatment he received, he slowly started to stabilize. 

After four weeks, when it was considered safe enough for him to travel, he was transferred to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital where he underwent surgery (on two occasions) to place a VP Shunt in his right ventricle.  This allowed the blocked spinal fluid, caused by the IVH, to flow from his brain to his abdomen and prevent the potential (and looming) probability of severe hydrocephalus.

After a rough start, two surgeries and seventy-eight days in the NICU, Mattias was discharged on March 7, 2004.  Thanks to the advances made possible through March of Dimes research and the outstanding care that our baby boy received, and the expertise of the staff, Mattias is with us today.  Mattias will soon be turning four and is a very bright preschooler.  He still participates in physical and occupational therapy to assist in remediating the few developmental delays he has experienced, but after such a rough start,  he is a happy, healthy and smart toddler, filled with wonder and questions about everything.   Research made possible through the March of Dimes helped make the lives of everyone in our family richer and gave Mattias a chance for a healthy, productive life, a chance that may never have materialized without this wonderful program.

The premature birth rate in the United States has reached a historic high; now up 29% since 1981. Premature birth can affect anyone at any time. The March of Dimes has extended the Prematurity Campaign to 2010 in hopes of raising the awareness of the problem of prematurity and decreasing the rate of premature birth.

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies and in 2003 launched a campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at marchofdimes.com or its Spanish language Web site at nacersano.org.

Special thanks to:


Merril Hoge

Honorary Chair

As a graduate of Idaho State University with a degree in Education and a minor in Health and Fitness, Merril Hoge was a four year football starter, set 44 school and conference records, 22 of them still intact, and still holds two NCAA football records.
Mr. Hoge was drafted in 1987 by the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he played until 1993 and led the team in rushing and receiving in four of his first five years, setting a record in his third year for receptions by a running back.   He is one of only two Steelers players to rush for more than 100 yards in back-to-back playoff games (the other being Franco Harris).   He was Steelers Iron Man of the Year two years in a row (1989 and 1990), and was named to the All-Madden team in 1989.   In 1993, Mr. Hoge went to the Chicago Bears as a free agent, where he played for two years, until he was forced to retire early due to post-concussion syndrome.   At the time of his retirement, Mr. Hoge had the longest consecutive playing streak in the NFL.
In 1995, Mr. Hoge joined ESPN as a football analyst, where he currently works with Ron Jaworski and Suzy Kolber on the highly acclaimed EA Sports NFL Match Up show, which is the only show that uses and studies coaches' tape to provide an inside look at the game.   Mr. Hoge has distinguished himself through his in-depth knowledge of both offense and defense and his strong relationships with the coaches and players in the National Football League.   Mr. Hoge is also an analyst for NFL Tonight that airs on ESPN television, and co-hosts The NFL on ESPN Radio .

 

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