Meet our 2013 Ambassador Family, the McSpaddens:
In March 2008 Michael and Melissa McSpadden found out
they were pregnant for the second time. Amidst the excitement of a new
addition, they also discovered that Melissa was carrying identical twin boys. Many
emotions set in including the initial shock of carrying the twins, to the great
joy of experiencing such a rare blessing.
Over the next few months the pregnancy continued
normally. However, at around 20 weeks
the problems started. Melissa began to have tremendous pain and swelling
in her belly. Her obstetrician diagnosed
her with polyhydramnios, excessive fluid in the gestational sac, and referred
her to see a high risk specialist. That appointment would never come. In the early morning hours of August 3, 2008, Melissa awoke to painful contractions. She was in the early stages of labor. After rushing to the hospital, the McSpaddens shortly found that there was nothing that could be done to prevent the twins delivery. Landon and Gavin were born shortly after.
Landon weighed 1 pound 4 ounces and was 11 inches long, Gavin weighed 1 pound 2 ounces and was 10.5 inches long. They each had two tiny eyes and ears, ten tiny fingers and toes and a tiny mouth and nose. They were perfect. At only 22 weeks and 5 days they were not strong enough for birth. Their tiny hearts had stopped beating. Michael and Melissa held them and cried. Their entire world would be forever changed.
Initially, the McSpaddens were overcome with grief. When
you lose a child, there is a permanent void in your life. Michael and Melissa’s void was twofold. In the beginning it was a daily struggle to
participate in life’s simplest tasks.
One cannot comprehend the overwhelming feeling of sadness, depression,
anger and hopelessness that paralyzes the body.
With the passing of time, Michael and Melissa started to slowly heal.
With loss comes gain, and in the Spring of 2010 the
March of Dimes was introduced to Melissa by a family member. After educating herself about the March of
Dimes’ mission, she registered for the upcoming March for Babies walk. While preparing for their initial walk, the
McSpaddens realized that The March for Babies would be the perfect opportunity
to remember and honor the memory of their lost twins, and raise funds for a
cause that could prevent their fate from happening to others. And so they started their own family team;
Team Landon and Gavin McSpadden in memory of their twin boys. Over the last three years, their team has
raised over $23,000 for the March of Dimes.
Michael and Melissa take solace in knowing that their efforts will help
other babies born severely premature to persevere and thrive due to the
research, medical advances and treatments the March of Dimes has helped
develop. 
Since their loss, and with the medical help of 2
cerclages, progesterone and modified bed rest, the McSpadden family has
grown. Michael and Melissa have welcomed
daughters Logan in October 2009, and Rowan in September 2012, to join their
oldest Camryn. As time passes it is
extremely important for them to make sure that Landon and Gavin are never
forgotten, that they acknowledge their existence always, never let their memory
fade and forever continue speaking their names.
And with this have accepted that they cannot change the past but can and
will try to make a difference for others now and in the future.
This past year, Team Landon and Gavin McSpadden were the Top Family Team in Austin. We asked Melissa for some insight into how she made her family team a top team and this is what she said:
1. We recruited family, friends, neighbors,
co-workers, students.2. We had Team McSpadden postcards printed and handed them out everywhere I went. It had the link to my Team Page and March for Babies walk information on it.
3. We hosted a Bowling for Babies Tournament at Mel's Lonestar Lanes.
4. We fundraised through Grisham Middle School and got the students involved.
5. We found corporate sponsors
As the 2013 Austin Ambassador Family, the McSpaddens
want to help raise awareness about, and support the mission of helping all moms
have healthy, full-term pregnancies. Please
join the McSpaddens and the March of Dimes as we work together for stronger,
healthier babies and walk for out tiniest Texans in this year’s March for
Babies!
