Trueloves are 2015 Ambassador Family for the March of Dimes

Published 6:50 pm Tuesday, December 23, 2014

As a registered nurse at Associates of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Dalton, Jessica Truelove knew of the pain experienced by families of babies who struggle with all sorts of ailments and health issues.

But it wasn’t until she could see it firsthand and have it affect her and her family directly that she was moved to become involved with the March of Dimes.

Truelove, her husband Aaron and their 15-month-old daughter Rosalee are the 2015 Ambassador Family for the Northwest 5-Star District of the March of Dimes.

Rosalee was born premature at 28 weeks in the normal 40-week pregnancy period. With a birth weight of 1 pound, 15 ounces, Rosalee faced a struggle from the start. She was born with a pulmonary hemorrhage and that has led to some developmental challenges as well.

For Jessica Truelove, the time spent in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Hamilton Medical Center placed the heartbreak she has had to deal with through her patients and their children in a much sharper light, now that it was her family and her daughter.

“As an OB-GYN nurse, I see prematurity and birth defects and infant loss,” Truelove said. “It is something that I deal with every day, and now I feel for them and understand on a very personal basis what it is like after spending 73 days in the NICU.”

The March of Dimes recently kicked off its 2015 campaign and looks to build off of last year’s total of $54,500 raised thanks to last year’s march. Sponsors last year included Hamilton Medical Center, Dalton Utilities, Regional Neonatal Specialists, Peds Care P.C., Textile Rubber, Pediatrics of Dalton, The Little Team and The Minor Family, Rock Bridge Community Church, Prime Pediatrics, Ashton Staffing, Bright Pediatrics and local Kmarts, which raised more than $18,000.

Kelly Jones of Dalton Utilities, who was part of last year’s Ambassador Family, has taken over as the campaign chair and gives credit to all of those who volunteer and raise money for the March of Dimes.

“There are so many people who invest their time and money to help the March of Dimes, and we are always looking for others to join such a wonderful cause,” Jones said.

Truelove was such a person last year when she organized Rosalee’s Rowdy Warriors team to march. Now, she is taking another step as her family is the face of this year’s campaign.

“I was always contemplating and thinking about what I could do to help other mothers,” Truelove said. “Raising money for the March of Dimes was a very good fit. Like most moms, you think that everything is going to be happy go lucky and have a perfect pregnancy, but things happen.”

For more information or to become involved in this year’s campaign, email LSAllen@marchofdimes.org or call (678) 873-1403.