Monticello — Mark and Ronda Thompson know first-hand how important March of Dimes'
research is for sick children. Their four-year-old daughter, Molly, was born
with a rare disease that meant surgery when she was only a few weeks old and
months of hospitalization in Lexington and Philadelphia.
Now, the Thompsons are excited to be able to give back to the
organization that fights everyday to save babies. Molly is serving as the
Ambassador Child for the 2009 March of Dimes Walk for Babies, which is set
for Saturday, October 3 at 10 a.m. at Memorial Park.
"We want to do anything we can to help March of Dimes because we have
been there and we know what it is like having a sick baby," said Ronda,
during a recent interview.
Molly, who has beautiful long hair with natural curls, likes to play
outside. She loves flowers and animals. It's hard to imagine that just a few
years ago she was a small baby fighting for her life.
Molly came to the Thompsons through a private adoption. Her birth mother
had very limited prenatal care, and she was born at 32 weeks, weighing six
pounds, two ounces. The Thompsons were given only a little over a month's
notice that they could adopt Molly, before she was born on August 13, 2005
at the University of Kentucky Hospital.
During that one prenatal visit, the ultrasound detected that Molly's
heart was thickened, so there was an indication there was a problem. When
Molly was born, her glucose reading was 6, which resulted in a rare disease
of congenital hyprinsulinism. HI, as it is referred to, is the best
described as the opposite of diabetes.
"Molly was only the fourth child in Kentucky to be diagnosed with this
disease," noted Ronda.
When she was three days old, doctors also diagnosed Molly with emphysema
of the right middle lobe of her lung. At one week old, she was placed on a
ventilator because the emphysema had shifted her heart and other organs to
the left. Because of the HI, Molly had to receive large amounts of fluids to
keep her sugars up, which resulted in rapid fluid retention. Doctors at the
University of Kentucky then turned to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia,
which specializes in HI.
Molly was flown by medical jet to Philadelphia on September 1, 2005, and
her dad went with her. At one and a half months old, she had her first major
surgery, when the right middle lobe of her lung was removed. About a week
later, she then had 98 percent of her pancreas removed and that resulted in
the placement of a G-tube.
Ronda expressed her appreciation to the Ronald McDonald homes in both
Lexington and Philadelphia, which was where the couple stayed throughout
Molly's lengthy hospitalization.
"They were our home away from home and we are truly grateful for them,"
said Ronda.
Molly has only two percent of her pancreas, which is still producing
more than a normal pancreas. The Thompsons have to make sure that Molly gets
juice and carbs in her diet throughout the day. She eats frequently, even if
it's just a few bites, which helps keep her HI in check. At night, a feeding
pump helps keep her sugars normal while she is sleeping.
Molly came home on November 5, 2005. The drive from Philadelphia took
the Thompsons 17 hours. They stopped every couple of hours to check her
sugar. She came home on oxygen and required about four shots a day.
Many local residents had followed Molly's story. She was on prayer lists
at many churches and Ronda kept a Care page updated when she was in
Lexington and Philadelphia, so people could follow Molly's progress.
"People would come up to us and start talking and asking about
Molly...She is well-known," said Ronda.
Over the past four years, Molly's recovery has been remarkable. She is
the average height and weight of a four-year-old. She sees an
endocrinologist in Louisville every six months now, and doctors are
currently in the process of weaning her from the fluids she receives at
night. That means next year, the G-tube should be removed.
"She's just our miracle, that's all we can say," said Ronda.
Molly is the granddaughter of Homer and Margie Thompson, Ronnie and
Jackolyn Uphcurch and Gary and Janie Sloan. She will be at the Walk for
Babies to officially kick off this year's event.
Anyone who would like to walk in the March of Dimes event is encouraged
to do so. For more information, call (606) 679-6514.