HIGHLAND | Nearly a year ago, Allison Cheeseman gave birth to a boy and did one of the hardest things she's ever had to do.

She went to her Highland home without her son and told his four siblings that their little brother, Nathan, was too little and too sick to come home.

"Walking in without my baby from the hospital was just heart wrenching," Cheeseman said.

Nathan was born three and a half months early. For 78 days, he stayed in the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Margaret Mercy Healthcare Centers in Hammond.

On March 27, Nathan turns 1.

"There's absolutely nothing wrong with him," Cheeseman said. "He's crawling, trying to pull himself up on furniture."

Nathan's survival story and his mother's determination to spread hope to other families experiencing premature birth have earned the Cheesemans the title of 2008 Lake County March for Babies ambassador family.

March for Babies is the largest fundraising event for March of Dimes, according to the organization that works to improve babies' health and prevent premature birth and birth defects.

Cheeseman said she contacted March of Dimes because she had heard of their great support groups for parents of premature babies.

As they grew to know the local March of Dimes organization, Cheeseman's family was asked to be the ambassadors of this year's March for Babies. Cheeseman also is chairwoman of the event this year, which kicked off Thursday night at Resorts Casino in East Chicago.

More than 1,500 walkers are expected to participate in the March for Babies event, which will is April 27 in Highland, Cheeseman said.

Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the walk begins at 10 a.m. at Highland High School, 9135 Erie St., Highland.

People can meet Nathan at the march.

"Everyone can see for themselves what happened and how good he's doing and what a success story he is," Cheeseman said.

Cheeseman credits the online support groups through March of Dimes for helping her get through the rough times.

"It really helped because I knew what I could be expecting," she said.

For more information on the March for Babies or to register a team, visit www.marchforbabies.org.