When her mom developed dangerously high blood pressure, Alexa was delivered by emergency c-section. She suffered breathing problems and bleeding in her brain. Due to March of Dimes advances and 108 days spent in neonatal intensive care, Alexa battled the odds—and, miraculously, beat them. 

Today, Alexa lives with health challenges resulting from her premature birth, including mild cerebral palsy and a permanent shunt in her brain. She attends physical therapy regularly.  Despite this, Alexa is a radiant, energetic 5-year-old and the pride and joy of her parents, Josue and Jessica Ostolaza, of Gainesville, Florida.

As the 2006 National Ambassador for the March of Dimes, Alexa will travel the country with her parents. She will share her story with volunteers, celebrities and government officials and raise much-needed awareness about the deepening crisis of premature birth. 

Every year, half a million babies are born prematurely in the U.S., and the numbers are increasing at an alarming rate. Through its national Prematurity Campaign, the March of Dimes is working hard to find answers so that all babies can have their full nine months.

If you have had a premature baby in a neonatal intensive care unit and would like to share your experience with others, visit the March of Dimes Share Your Story Web site, an online community for families.