News from the March of Dimes

"March of Dimes 2008 National Ambassador, 6-year-old Catharine Aboulhouda of Allentown, Pennsylvania, met President George W. Bush in the Oval Office on July 21, 2008. During her meeting with President Bush, Catharine delivered the message that preventing preterm birth should be a national priority. The National Ambassador Family has taken this message across the country, speaking on behalf of the March of Dimes and its efforts to give every baby a healthy full-term start in life."

I'm sure it was exciting for her and her family, but too bad it wasn't a different president. When I read this, I just kept thinking what a wonderful opportunity they have and how well versed she might become at such a young age... to be an activist of sorts and have your message heard.  Then I thought of how I'd never want to do that with my own family, and that just living simply and having time to play and just be is so important. I'd rather leave the limelight for someone else.

This also caught my attention.

"The March of Dimes Foundation mourns the passing of Victor A. McKusick, MD, University Professor of Medical Genetics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, a long-time advisor to the March of Dimes, and the award-winning "father of medical genetics," who died July 22 at age 86."

Wow. Where do we go now, and who's taking us there?