Family to honor son with March of Dimes walk

POLSON - The unimaginable pain of losing a child struck the Sanford family in May 2008.

Carter, Chantel and Patrick's newborn son was born premature and unable to survive his birth defects. During the years that followed, the Sanford's continually worked through their grief. This year, with Carter always in their hearts, they've turned the hurt into a campaign to help other families with preemies.

Carter would have turned 2 this May. Instead of walking with him, his family will walk in his memory on May 8 with the March of Dimes organization in Missoula. The team, Carter Steps, will give the money they raised to help families avoid situations like theirs. They have recruited almost a dozen friends and family members to walk with them and are hoping to raise $1,400 to donate to the cause.

March of Dimes is a global organization dedicated to improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.

The services provided to families of preemies before and after birth are priceless, Chantel knows. When deciding what she could do to honor Carter, she took into account what they would have liked to have during their hard time.

"I would have to say that it is to help prevent other parents from going through what we went through and to help raise money to give babies a healthy start at life," she said.

It's kind of been overwhelming, that day is going to be emotional. I obviously think about Carter every day, but this makes me think about him more."

To help raise the money, the team has put e-mails and calls out to all their friends and family. A dozen donation cans will be placed at local businesses and a chili feed is scheduled for April 17. A 50/50 raffle is being held at St. Joseph Medical Center where Chantel is a nurse.

Chantel said they're well on their way to the original $1,400 goal and will keep working until the walk.

Carter Steps team member Caryl Brown works with Chantel at St. Joe's. She had three premature babies herself.

One of her daughters was born weighing only 2.5 pounds.

"It was just almost unheard of for them to live that small," Brown said.

She had to travel to Missoula every day to visit her daughter until she was able to come home. The hospital bills were huge, and Brown said she would have loved to have the help of an organization like March of Dimes.

The money can be used to help preemies who have health complications throughout their life, or help families with counseling

"[March of Dimes] gives peace of mind to those who've had a baby who's passed away or who's sick," fellow team member Amanda Stevens said.

Carter's sisters, 4-year-old Caitlynn and 4-month-old Abbigail, will walk with their parents, aunts, grandpa and many friends, all with T-shirts featuring a picture of Carter. Rain or shine they're ready to walk.

And maybe someday, the walk will be held in Polson, led by Carter Steps.

If you'd like to help Carter Steps, you can go to http://marchforbabies.org/team.t1374047. Cans will be at Saint Joseph Medical Center, SuperOne Foods, First Citizens Bank, Glacier Bank, Pier 93, Polson Auto Parts/NAPA, Beacon Tire, The UPS Store, Lake City Bakery, Pampered Pets, Polson Propane and Harvest Foods in Ronan.