Tamara Miller
Board Member, Family Team Committee, Walk Chair and more
Medford
Tamara Miller started supporting March of Dimes after her daughter, MacKenzie, was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder, Short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (SCAD) deficiency, when she was nine months old. In laymen’s terms, it means that her body cannot process certain fats. It is a metabolic disorder under the family of Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders (FAODs). At the time of her diagnosis, she was both physically and developmentally behind for her age group. Tamara contacted March of Dimes to see if they could help MacKenzie get the care she needed. Due to the direction of March of Dimes, MacKenzie received care through Respite Nurse, as well as an Early Intervention Specialist to assist in her development and growth. Now, MacKenzie is on par with her peers in her Kindergarten class. Tamara and her family know that MacKenzie’s good health is a direct result of the Early Intervention she received through the assistance and direction of March of Dimes.
Tamara supports March for Babies by walking with her family team. In 2008 and 2009 she was a Top Walker. In 2010 she walked in the Josephine County March for Babies for the first time. Tamara was then asked to serve on the Josephine County Board as a Family Team Committee Member for the 2011 walk. That year, Tamara and her family raised $20,000. By 2012, she became the Chairperson for the Josephine County March for Babies. 2013 marks her 6th year volunteering with March of Dimes. Tamara loves being involved and she appreciates having the ability to spread the word about March of Dimes’ mission.
Two of her three children were born early, so Tamara wants to ensure that all babies reach full-term, and that no mother has to know the fear of having a preemie. She is inspired by her daughter MacKenzie everyday. At nine months old, doctors told her to celebrate if she made it to her first birthday. Today, MacKenzie is five and a half. She is Tamara’s little miracle.
When asked what she was born to do, Tamara said, “I believe that everyone is meant to do something special…and I feel in my heart, that it is my job to educate people about the mission of March of Dimes. I know that the money I raise is helping families (like mine) get the education or medical care that they need for their baby. If I can educate one person about the importance of March of Dimes and help to prevent premature births in the process, then I know I’m doing good. I walk so that all babies can be born healthy and full-term.”
