For Trevis Badeaux and his wife, Jennifer, the March of Dimes’ ongoing efforts to prevent premature births and infant deaths proved life-saving for their twin sons Zachary and Isaac.

But after spending two months in a neo-natal intensive care unit sitting next to the parents of New Iberia twins who did not survive the effects of their premature births, Badeaux said Evan and Cayden are “proof that we have a long way to go.”

Zachary and Isaac, this year’s March of Dimes Ambassador Children for Iberia Parish, will turn 1 year old this month. The story of their strength and how they lived through severe complications from being born three months premature have made them poster children for local March of Dimes fundraising efforts.

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“My boys will be used to help explain what March of Dimes does and how,” Trevis Badeaux said. “My children are alive today because of the donations and support people have given.”

Born at 2 pounds, 3 ounces and 1 pound, 7 ounces, respectively, Zachary and Isaac spent the first three months of their lives on breathing machines and ventilators while undergoing numerous blood transfusions, treatments for bilateral hernias and a nearly fatal open-heart surgery for Zachary.

“It’s a very scary and real fear, you’re a new parent and you don’t know what’s happening to your child,” said Badeaux. “You question everything. The staff is understanding and consoling, but the reality of it being an intensive care unit is never forgotten.”

Zachary and Isaac were released when they weighed a little more than 4 pounds, but had to be “on lockdown” at home for several months to make sure they were not exposed to respiratory syncytial virus. Though Badeaux said the virus is a rather common illness for babies, RSV can be deadly for premature infants.

During the three-month hospital stay at Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Lafayette, the Badeauxs befriended a New Iberia couple whose twin boys, Evan and Cayden, also were in the neo-natal intensive care unit because of premature birth complications.

Within 18 hours of their births, one of the boys died, Badeaux said.

“We were in the room when he passed away,” Badeaux said. “I will go to my grave hearing that woman scream for her child to breathe just one more time.”

The surviving son progressed with Zachary and Isaac through different levels of the intensive care unit, but died about a month before Zachary and Isaac were released.

The NIC unit at Women’s and Children’s houses about 45 premature children on any given day, Badeaux said, and Louisiana has higher numbers of premature births than the national average, said March of Dimes Division Director Lydia Cavaness.

 Statistics show that one out of every eight births in the United States was premature in 2005, according to the March of Dimes Web site.

“Within a span of two months, that young mother buried both of her twin children,” said Badeaux. “To this day, when my boys look up at the ceiling and coo like they’re playing or talking to someone, I say it’s Evan and Cayden looking over our boys and playing with them.”

The Badeauxs will join local businesses, non profits and hundreds of residents on April 25 at New Iberia City Park for March for Babies, a three-mile walk fundraiser for the March of Dimes.

The annual event has been taking place in New Iberia for about 20 years, and this year will offer face painting, a fun jump, a clown, a hula hoop contest, refreshments, music and more, Cavaness said. Registration is at 8 a.m., and the walk starts at 9 a.m.

For registration information or to volunteer or donate to the non profit, Cavaness said to visit www.marchforbabies.org or call 233-8476. March for Babies participants can register as individuals, corporate or family teams.

“My wife and I agreed to be a part of the March (for Babies) with the stipulation that we could also tell the tale of Evan and Cayden,” Badeaux said. “There has been miraculous research and discoveries that allowed my children to survive, but the work is not done.”