Hey, little Nicholas.

I know you’re sleeping right now. You’ve had a hard day of eating and crying. You’re going to fit into this family really, really well.

I’m Ben, your great uncle. I know when you’re a little older you will hear of my adventures and think I’m more of a not-so-great uncle. But that’s just a title I get because your mother is my neice.

It’s still amazing to me that something as tiny as you will someday grow into something as big as me. Well, as tall. You’ll probably not have as much extra pounds on you.

Just wanted to let you know that Saturday is the annual Pickens County March for Babies. It will begin at Easley High School.

I’ll be there, taking photos. I may walk, but I doubt it — I need to cover Spring Fling downtown, too — but I want you to know I did raise money for the March for Babies. You see, you’re lucky. You were born healthy. A lot of other babies are not. Some are born too early, and have to fight for every breath they take from their first day alive. The March of Dimes, which benefits from the March for Babies, has spent a lot of time trying to prevent such things from happening. They have made tremendous strides, but there’s lots more work for them to do.

You know, you’ve probably already benefited from the work of the March of Dimes. Your mother Rebecca knew more about what it takes to have a healthy pregnancy due to MOD research. Hospitals are equipped better due to MOD grants.

Still, there are some babies born premature even though the mother has done everything she should for a healthy pregnancy. The March of Dimes will not rest until birth defects and premature births are a thing of the past.

Just thought you’d like to know that there are a lot of folks out there who cared about you long before you were born. And they’re still fighting for healthier babies.

Sweat dreams, Nicholas. Dream of a day when all babies are born as healthy as you.

­—­ Ben Robinson