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CNN Live At Daybreak
6-Year-Old 2001 March of Dimes Ambassador Heads to the White House
Aired July 13, 2001 - 08:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LINDA STOUFFER, CNN ANCHOR: Well, one of the other top stories we've been telling you about today, babies and more babies in Washington, D.C. Septuplets were born overnight. And a team of specialists in premature infants is now monitoring the babies very closely at Georgetown University Hospital.
Well, our next two guests know plenty about the difficulties of premature births. They're also in Washington for us this morning and are going to the White House today to talk about the efforts of the March of Dimes.
So joining us now: Justin Washington, who was born weighing less than two pounds but is now, as you can see, a very healthy kid and his mom Dorenda.
Welcome to you both, so glad you could be with us.
Justin, where are you going today? Can you tell us how you're feeling about your big adventure?
JUSTIN WASHINGTON, 2001 NATIONAL AMBASSADOR, MARCH OF DIMES: I'm feeling great. And I'm going to the White House.
STOUFFER: Well, what do you know about the White House? What are you expecting?
JUSTIN WASHINGTON: I'm going to see George Bush.
STOUFFER: The president. And what will you be telling the president?
J. WASHINGTON: That it's -- these boots are the same boots -- Rocky is same man that makes George Bush boots, my boots.
STOUFFER: Your boots, that's right. Show us about your boots because -- show us and tell us about your boots, rather, because I understand that you have something in common with the president and it's what's on your feet right now. Your boots were made by the same man who made the president's boots. What do you think about that?
J. WASHINGTON: It's great. And I have a March of Dimes -- and he signed it and it doesn't have a zipper.
(LAUGHTER)
STOUFFER: Well, Justin, when you put them on and walk the boots into the White House today, will you be speaking with the president about the March of Dimes? What are you going to tell him?
J. WASHINGTON: I'm going to tell him it's an honor to meet you.
STOUFFER: And will you be talking about the March of Dimes too, telling him about your story?
J. WASHINGTON: Yes, ma'am.
STOUFFER: All right, well, good luck to you. And Justin, I want to talk to your mom for a moment too.
You may have heard, Dorenda that we've been talking about the news today, about this mother in Washington who went into labor and gave birth to seven children. Now, you were having a pretty healthy pregnancy, as far as you were concerned. But when it's a labor four months early, I can't imagine what this other mother is going through. It must have been excruciating to deal with, the health problems and complications of just one premature baby. What are your thoughts?
DORENDA WASHINGTON, JUSTIN'S MOM: You are exactly right. I know exactly what's she's going through and I can't imagine multiple births. To have a baby weighing only a pound-and-a-half and the doctors telling me that he may not make it, I think that is the most devastating news that any parent can have. But thanks to the March of Dimes and all the wonderful work that they are doing to save babies like Justin, we do have hope.
STOUFFER: Well, it must have been so difficult for you in Justin's first days because, as I understand it, he had problems with his lungs, his intestines, his eyes and as you said, he weighed just less than two pounds. So how is it different having the child like Justin than giving birth to a healthy baby on time?
D. WASHINGTON: Totally different. I -- at six months of pregnancy, I delivered Justin at 24 weeks. The average baby is 40 weeks so you can imagine. If you cup your hands together, Justin could literally fit in the palm of my hands.
I was telling a gentleman the other day that you really don't understand what those parents have to go through unless you actually see a baby that small. It doesn't seem real. You're almost in denial, to see a baby that small. And you have to relinquish all of, you know, your efforts to the specialized care of doctors and nurses and so many people in the neonatal intensive care unit, the NICUs. You're just really there to support them because they're the experts that really take over. And those are the people that we will be forever indebted to along with the March of Dimes, who funded the research into NICUs and all the specialized care.
STOUFFER: And I know you were so thankful, as you mentioned, for the March of Dimes and their support along these issues. But what will you, personally, be telling the president? Is there a message you want to get across?
D. WASHINGTON: I would. I would like to talk to him about premature births, you know, in America today.
Since 1981, premature births have increased 23 percent. That's an alarming rate and we've got to do something about it. We've got to find out why so many mothers are going into labor early and especially African-American women. African-American women are twice as likely to deliver preterm babies than any other woman. We don't know why this is happening. That's why I'm so proud to be affiliated with the March of Dimes because they are doing everything they possibly can to find out why we are having so many preterm babies.
STOUFFER: And we are so glad that your story has a happy ending because your son, Justin is doing just great, as we understand, a very healthy child so good luck to both of you. I hope you have fun at the White House.
D. WASHINGTON: Thank you. Thank you so much.
J. WASHINGTON: Can I put my boot on?
(LAUGHTER)
STOUFFER: Put your boots on and walk them into the White House.
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