WATERLOO -- Andrew Roethler's small face lights up when his father walks through the door.

It is a special day when his dad, Will Roethler, leaves work for a few minutes to come home and see his son. And Andrew knows it.

The 21-month-old leaves his big purple ball behind and runs for his father's arms. For Andrew's mother, Amy Roethler, these simple actions bring so much joy.

Andrew was born July 17, 2003, 12 1/2 weeks before his due date in October. He was immediately transported to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics where he could receive care in the neonatal intensive care unit. Six weeks later he was transferred back to Allen Hospital and just one day before he was supposed to be born, Andrew finally came home.

"To this day, I remember so clearly sitting by his bed, hour after hour, watching him sleep. Watching the numbers and hearing the alarms on the monitors, sitting there wondering what the next hurdle would be and how we could possibly get over it," Amy Roethler said.

During the spring of 2004 Amy Roethler heard an advertisement for the local March of Dimes WalkAmerica event. The walk, in its 35th year nationwide, raises money for research and education. Chris Garrett, a division manager with the March of Dimes, said the organization is currently in the middle of a prematurity campaign that focuses on educating expectant mothers about the signs of preterm labor and some prevention techniques.

"From 1991 to 2001 the premature birth rate in Iowa increased by 25 percent. This can affect anyone," Garrett said. "This isn't just about women who smoke and drink or don't have proper nutrition."

Though the 2004 walk was only a couple of weeks away Roethler convinced several women she worked with to participate in the upcoming walk. They will do the same again this year. Last year's walk raised $55,000. Garrett said the organization hopes to raise $56,000 this year.

Christi Hulme serves on this year's regional walk committee. She knows March of Dimes is well-known for its work to help prevent premature births. But she also wants people to know about the work they do funding research that works to prevent birth defects.

Hulme's son, Chance, was born Oct. 23, 2000. Though he and his twin, Parker, were only three weeks early, Chance weighed in at just 3 pounds 8 ounces. Parker weighed 6 pounds 1 ounce.

Hulme got only a quick glance at her new baby before doctors took him away to be placed in an incubator. Doctors diagnosed Chance with a congenital heart defect just three days later. Within three months doctors decided Chance could not wait any longer. He needed open heart surgery.

"It was the hardest moment of our lives to hand over our fragile little boy to the doctors, not knowing what the outcome of the surgery would be," Hulme said. Despite numerous complications Chance pulled through.

Both Amy Roethler and Hulme feel the support they received from the March of Dimes can never be repaid.

"The March of Dimes has been a great support for me. I still go out to the site and read other's stories," Amy Roethler said. "I also encourage others to donate or walk. Who's to say it couldn't happen to them?"

Contact Emily Christensen at (319) 291-1482 or emily.christensen@wcfcourier.com.