Elizabeth’s Law ~ and the song …

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever does” ~ Margaret Mead

This one is for you New Yorkers! Each time I write a song for a cause that touches me, it is the beginning of an ongoing and enduring connection to that cause. In the case of Had I Known, written for my friend Lisa and her late daughter Elizabeth, I feel a particular pride when Lisa continues to forge ahead to make a difference, to foster changes to help others that helps her deal with the pain of her profound loss. So I say to my New York friends and family, please listen to this song and show your support of this new bill that would establish “Elizabeth’s Law”. I’m sure that once you hear the song you will be moved and all you have to do to make the difference, is reach out to support the bill online.

What it is about, is that New York residents now have a chance to protect the unborn children of child care providers from the leading viral cause of birth defects, cytomegalovirus (CMV). They can help get Senate Bill S6287 passed, establishing “Elizabeth’s law” (named in memory of Lisa’s daughter), which would require “child care providers to be trained on the impacts and dangers of congenital cytomegalovirus infection and the treatments and methods of prevention of cytomegalovirus infection.” Lisa Saunders, a former licensed child care provider, was uninformed of her increased risk for CMV. Elizabeth was born with a severely damaged brain from congenital CMV in 1989 and died in 2006 during a seizure. When she was pregnant with her, she probably caught CMV from the toddlers in her daycare center because young children in group care are often excreting the virus (though usually harmless to them) in their saliva and urine.

The two ways NY residents can show their support of Senate Bill S6287, sponsored by Senator John W. Mannion (D) 50th Senate District (my senator), is to take one or both of these actions:

1) Contact your senator and ask them to support Senate Bill S6287 so child care providers can be educated about their occupational risk for cytomegalovirus (CMV) and how to prevent it.
2) Go to Senate Bill S6287 here, create an account with the New York State Senate if you don’t already have one, then look to the right of the bill page, and click on “Aye”.