Premature birth rates are more than just a number for thousands of moms and dads, it's personal.
Nona Jones delivered her son Timothy three months ahead of schedule.
According to medical professionals, he only had a bout a fifty percent shot at survival.
Today Timothy is a healthy, happy and smiling baby boy.
Not every family is as lucky the March of Dimes annual report card gave Florida a "F" for premature births.
Jones says all the preparation in the world won't make you immune from delivering a baby before term.
After Timothy Junior was born he had to spend 100 days in the intensive care unit at Shands.
Now, with a healthy baby boy in her arms, Nona shares her experiences and her support with the March of Dimes in Gainesville.
To learn more about the premature birth and what's being done to prevent it, visit March of Dimes.