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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 15, 2024 12:25 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Daniel J. Deasy |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Recognizing May 17, 2024 as Necrotizing Enterocolitis Day in PA |
| Soon, I will be introducing a resolution recognizing May 17, 2024, as "Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) Day" in Pennsylvania. Affecting our littlest community members, Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common cause of death in hospitalized premature infants after two weeks of age. Babies born prematurely or with a medical complication, like congenital heart disease, are most at risk of NEC. However, it can develop in both premature babies and babies born at term, and more data is desperately needed to better understand how and why it occurs at all. Disparities and variation in care lead to Black infants being disproportionately affected by, and dying from, NEC compared to white infants. Roughly 7% of premature babies develop NEC and, of those, about 25% do not survive. One of my own constituents, Cash Owen Finegan, son of Shannan and Cassius Finegan, lived for 68 brave days before succumbing to NEC complications. After hearing the heartbreaking story and the frustration these families face, I felt it was important to recognize this terrible disease and help to create awareness about it. Many of these babies only live for a few hours or days and surgery for NEC is not curative. Oftentimes, the babies who do survive have lifelong neurological and nutritional complications. Working toward awareness and a cure is how this devastating neonatal disease can be eradicated. Won’t you please join me in co-sponsoring this measure to help raise awareness of this devastating disease that has taken the lives of our littlest far too soon. |
Introduced as HR341