March of Dimes ambassador

Like many 3-year-olds, Aiden Bronkema of Orland Park loves to read and play video games. His favorite superhero is Spider-Man.

But he has been battling for his life since his premature birth.

Aiden weighed 1 pound, 15 ounces when he was born and immediately faced a variety of health issues. He spent three months in the neonatal intensive care unit, where he was treated for a serious bowel infection. He needed a ventilator to breathe and underwent multiple surgeries that were necessary because he was born several weeks early.

Aiden has a scarred belly from all of his surgeries and wears glasses because he experienced Stage 3 retinal neuropathy. He also is undergoing speech therapy.

His mother, Elaine Ostrowski, said her son is nothing short of a miracle.

"At 20 weeks, I went in for an ultrasound. They told me it was a boy but that my fluids were so low that if that didn't improve, his kidneys would not form and he would not survive," she said. "Aiden decided to change that."

On April 17, Aiden will join about 500 people in Midlothian to participate in the annual March of Dimes March for Babies. He is the south suburban ambassador baby for this year's walk.

The event is one of six in the Chicago area to raise money to help prevent premature birth and birth defects and lower infant mortality rates.

The walks also will take place in Chicago, Elk Grove Village, Libertyville, Naperville and St. Charles.

For information on the April 17 event call (312) 596-4716 or visit www.marchofdimes.com/illinois.

Aiden Bronkema, 3, of Orland Park, is the south suburban ambassador baby for this year's March of Dimes March for Babies on April 17 at Midlothian Meadows.