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Taking a frigid plunge for March of Dimes

Cuyahoga Falls woman diving in to help cause dear to her heart

By Bill Lilley
Beacon Journal

Published on Wednesday, Feb 13, 2008

CUYAHOGA FALLS: Jennifer Bauer has been known to step outside the box to celebrate milestone events.

Such as on her 30th birthday three years ago.

''I figured the best way to jump into my 30s was to jump out of a plane for the first time,'' she said.

That was for fun. That was just for herself.

Now, Bauer, a new mom and an executive assistant for YRC North American Transportation, is on a nobler — and definitely more chilling — mission.

She plans to be one of the 100 or so brave souls participating in the fifth annual Polar Bear Jump at 2 p.m. Saturday
at Portage Lakes State Park on Manchester Road.

The plunge into icy water, which is staged by the Portage Lakes Polar Bear Club, benefits a different organization each year. In 2007, more than $30,000 was raised for the American Heart Association.

This year's beneficiary is the March of Dimes, and that's what's driving Bauer to make the jump.

She became a big supporter of the March of Dimes, which crusades against birth defects, during the final weeks of her pregnancy last year.

Bauer expected to deliver her first child in August, but she had some complications on May 5.

''I went to Akron General Medical Center and they did tests that determined my water had broken,'' she said.

Further tests also revealed that Bauer had a massive benign fibroid tumor in her birth canal.

At that time, Bauer was in what was thought to be the 25th week of her pregnancy.

''I was told a baby only has a 50 percent rate of survival at that point,'' she said. ''And that there would be a 75 percent chance of long-term disability.''

Bauer was in intensive care for three days. Then she was confined to bed rest — at first in the hospital and later at home in Cuyahoga Falls.

''It was the toughest time of our lives,'' said Jamie Bauer, her husband. ''Every day that went by was a blessing. It raised the baby's chance of survival and not having long-term disabilities.''

Finally, doctors decided it was safe to deliver the baby.

''By some grace of God, I was able to hold on until 32 weeks,'' Jennifer Bauer said. ''The doctors thought it was 34 weeks, but I'm just thankful the baby was mature enough to withstand giving birth early.''

Alyssa Bauer was born by Caesarean section on July 3. She weighed 4 pounds, 13 ounces and was 171/2 inches long. She suffered from respiratory distress syndrome, apnea and jaundice and spent 17 days in the intensive care unit.

''We didn't get to hold her for two days,'' Jennifer Bauer said. ''That was frustrating — just looking at our baby in an incubator. But we were so grateful that she was healthy that I was willing to do about anything.''

And now that anything is a jump in freezing water.

''I really try not to think too much about how cold the water will be,'' said Jennifer Bauer, who had the tumor surgically removed in August. ''I'm told it will be around 40 degrees. I think with doing it for such a great cause, and all the other people jumping in at the same time, the adrenalin will take care of things for me.''

She's already surpassed her initial jump sponsorship goal of raising $500 for the March of Dimes and is still seeking donations through her personal spot on the March of Dimes Web site — www.marchforbabies.org/jmbauer30.

''Jumping for the March of Dimes is not jumping for Alyssa,'' she said. ''It's for all the moms and babies who are in a similar situation to the one I was in.''

Jamie Bauer, a 40-year-old senior projects manager for YRC, has no interest in joining his wife in the lake on Saturday.

''I'll run 6 miles and I'll walk anywhere,'' he said. ''I just figure there's got to be better ways to support the March of Dimes than jumping in a lake in the middle of February.''

Bill Lilley can be reached at 330-996-3811 or blilley@thebeaconjournal.com.

 

CUYAHOGA FALLS: Jennifer Bauer has been known to step outside the box to celebrate milestone events.

Get the full article here.


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