Giving, even when it hurts

Bereaved mother reaches through her grief to benefit

Saint Anthony prenatal assistance program

Donna Marsh lost her pregnant daughter, her son-in-law and their unborn child in a motorcycle-van accident in November.
It is a memory many people would want to repress.

But not Marsh, who is planning the first of what she hopes will become an annual fund-raising event to remember her daughter, Kayla Dawn King-Schneegas, by raising awareness and helping other expectant mothers, through the Saint Anthony Medical Center Prenatal Assistance Program.

“I wanted to give back, in honor of my daughter, for the community outpouring of support we received,” Marsh said. “The Prenatal Assistance Program was very helpful; the first time the nurse came to visit Kayla at home, she offered to put Kayla on the waiting list for a crib, but we already had one. That is what drew me to the program – the thought of expectant mothers on the waiting list for a bed for their babies. Times are hard with the economy and stuff, so I wanted to do something to help.”

Marsh, of Lake Village, will do just that on Sept. 26, when an All Vehicle Memorial Ride & Car Show for Kayla and William Kayl (the unborn child’s name) will be conducted, starting with a Memorial Ride, at 10 a.m. at Bar 10 in Roselawn. That will be followed by a car show from 1 to 5 p.m. and a dance starting at 4 p.m., at the Shelby Lions Club. There will be live music, food, cash bar, raffles and auctions.

“Proceeds from this event are going in memory of these angels to the Prenatal Assistance Program serving Lake, Porter, Newton and Jasper counties, to help needy families with cribs, diapers, formula and other necessities,” Marsh said. “I hope to do this every year. My goal is to take care of everyone on the prenatal waiting list.”

She also plans a special commemoration for families. “A headstone will be donated to a family that has lost a loved one due to an illegal driver or has lost a child to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or Shaken Baby Syndrome,” Marsh added.

Marsh’s daughter and her husband, William Schneegas, were riding on his motorcycle Nov. 2 when it was involved in a crash with a van in Parr, which is not far from Rensselaer. The couple, who had been married just 16 days, lived in Mt. Ayr.

Kathryn Copak, manager of the Prenatal Assistance Program, was moved by Marsh’s desire to help others. “It’s not often that someone will come to you and offer to raise funds for a community program, no matter how deserving. Donna is striving to work through her grief by focusing on helping others,” Copak said. “We always hope that we’re helping to make a positive difference in the lives and pregnancies of women we visit and counsel, so it’s great that Donna is showing her appreciation by assisting us in supporting other pregnant women like her daughter.”

IF YOU GO
Memorial Ride registration begins at 10 a.m. Sept. 26 at Bar 10, which is located eight miles east of U.S. 41 on Ind. 10, or two miles west of Interstate 65 on Ind. 10. Cost is $15 for vehicle and driver. Passengers will cost an additional $5 or a donation of a pack of baby wipes. Cost includes entry to the dance and food.

The car show will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Shelby Lion’s Club, 902 W. 235th Ave. Line-up begins at 11:30 a.m. Entry fee will be $10, or a package of diapers, any size newborn, to size four. Fee includes entry to the dance and food. The dance will begin at 4 p.m. at the club.

For more information or to make a donation, call Donna Marsh at (219) 306-1610.

ABOUT THE PRENATAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

The Saint Anthony Medical Center Prenatal Assistance program, which was established in 2002, provides free assistance for expectant Northwest Indiana mothers who have limited family income.
Services include:
* Free pregnancy testing.
* Referral and assistance with accessing community and hospital resources.
* Nutritional and pregnancy-related education.
* Regular and supportive contacts during pregnancy.
* Mother and infant care teaching after delivery.
* A clothing closet for expectant mother and baby needs.

The program, previously offered at the former Crown Point Clinic, 1121 S. Indiana Ave., has temporarily relocated to Saint Anthony-North Point, 2050 N. Main St., in anticipation of plans to build a new, permanent location for the Prenatal Assistance program, and for the St. Clare Health Clinic, on the Indiana Avenue site. The expansion is being financed by the Saint Anthony Medical Center Capital Campaign, which is seeking to raise $4.5 million, including matching funds from a private donor, by the end of next year for the effort.

Prenatal Assistance Program hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. For more information, call (219) 663-5349.