ARGYLE - Jared Johnson is a typical 8-year-old, whose favorite class in school is gym class, and who sometimes argues with his 6-year-old brother Jayden.

One never would know by looking at him that he was born prematurely and that he weighed 2 pounds, 11 ounces at birth.

Eight years may seem like a long time ago, but his parents, Stephanie and Jay, remember how difficult it was when he was born May 26, 2000, almost three months before the scheduled delivery date. It wasn't until June 8 that his mother was able to hold him.

"It was like holding a blanket because he was so light," Stephanie said.

The week Jared was born, Stephanie began to have complications with her pregnancy. Her blood pressure rose, she had elevated liver enzymes and low platelets. She went to the doctor on Monday and soon was sent to Saint Mary's Hospital in Madison. Jared was born the following Friday.

While Jared was in the hospital, his parents made the long drive every day to see him.

"I think we only missed one day during the entire time," Jay said. "Those were some long days."

They would go to see Jared in the NICU, with all of the tubes and monitors attached to him, and hope he soon would be well enough to come home.

Because his lungs weren't fully developed, doctors had to put drops of Surfactant in his lungs to help them expand and help him breathe easier on his own.

They brought Jared home Aug. 3. He weighed 5 pounds, 13 ounces.

Although they were happy to have him home, their concerns weren't lessened. He was on oxygen and had to eat through a tube that his parents had to insert through his nose. He also needed a heart and lung monitor.

"We were nervous about bringing him home," Jay said. "If he moved, it would set off one of the monitors and we had to make sure he was OK and that he hadn't stopped breathing."

There were long days and nights of worry and care as they took care of him, Stephanie said. What also made it difficult for them was the fact Jared was their first baby. Everything was new to them: Having a baby, taking care of a sick child wondering if his progress was normal or slow because he was born early.

They were able to take him off the heart monitor after six months. It was scary, Stephanie said, because they didn't know if he would breathe on his own. Much to their relief, he did.Today, Jared doesn't show any signs sometimes associated with premature babies, although he does suffer from asthma.

"Jayden has it, too, and he wasn't born premature," Stephanie said.

For the past couple of years, Jared and Stephanie have taken part in the March of Dimes walks and last year Jared raised more than $200.

The family didn't hesitate when asked to be Ambassador Family for the March of Dimes.

The medication Jared received to help expand his lung capacity as a baby was made possible by donations to the March of Dimes, Stephanie said.

The family's continued support of the March of Dimes is their way to give back for the help they received eight years ago.

The March of Dimes will host a spaghetti supper from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Monroe Veterans of Foreign Wars, 1428 17th St.. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for children. Children under the age of 4 can eat for free.

Tickets are available at Woodford State Bank and the Monroe VFW. Walk-ins are welcome.

Papa Murphy's also will have March of Dimes Days March 18 and April 15. For every pizza sold, $2 will be donated to the Green County March of Dimes.

The Green County March for Babies Walk to benefit the March of Dimes is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Saturday, April 25, at Hope Community Center in Monroe.

Registration forms are available at Monroe Clinic, Woodford State Bank, Swiss Colony and Farmer's Insurance.

For more information about the walk, contact (800) 747-3463.