10-10-12 —   Braylee Kidd, along with her family and friends, hope to see a large crowd at the March of Dimes March for Babies on Saturday, October 13 at Steubenville Baptist Church. Braylee is the 15-month-old daughter of Brittany and Cody Kidd and she is the Ambassador Child for the 2012 event.

    Braylee has a beautiful smile and like many other girls her age, she loves to watch Dora the Explorer on television. It is hard to imagine that she spent the first two months of her life in the hospital, after undergoing a life saving surgery in the first few days of her life.

    Braylee was born with gastroschisis, a birth defect that causes the intestines to be on the outside of her body. The condition was discovered when Brittany was 15 weeks pregnant with Braylee. It was her second ultrasound, Brittany noted.

    Doctors found it on an ultrasound and then began to plan for the baby's birth, which was scheduled for the University of Kentucky Hospital. Braylee was born on July 5. Surgery was performed successfully about a week later and she spent almost two months in the hospital.

    Braylee went back for regular checkups for several months, until doctors were certain that the digestive system was working. Braylee weighed six pounds and 1 ounce at birth and was up to seven pounds when she was released from the hospital.

    She has continued to grow and flourish and her mom says that everything is going very well.

    Brittany said that she and her family have never been involved with March for Babies before, but they were excited when they  were asked about Braylee serving as the Ambassador Child for 2012.

    "I think it is a great thing that they do," said Brittany.

    The Kidd family will be on hand to officially kick off the 2012 March for Babies on October 13 at Steubenville Baptist Church. Team photos and registration will begin at 10 a.m. and the walk will start at 11 a.m.

    Everyone is encouraged to get involved, join a team and walk for babies.

For more information call (606) 802-8635 or email mwesley@marchofdimes.com.