John & Carolyn Nevels, MISS Foundation’s National Legislative Liaison volunteers, traveled to our nation’s capitol in May to speak on behalf of parents of stillborn children. In 2002, Carolyn and John’s son, Bump, was born still.  Since then, they have been active in the stillbirth community by working to have Texas enact MISSing Angels legislation which will allow for the issuance of a "Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth."

 The Nevels’ joined with other representatives of national organizations dedicated to reducing stillbirth in the U.S., and with the support and guidance of the Health and Medicine Counsel of Washington, participated in a full day of advocacy that comprised of a multitude of teams attending pre-arranged meetings with the aides and liaisons of members of Congress in the Capitol's Senate and House Buildings.

 At each of the five meetings they attended, John and Carolyn asked for increased funding from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. This funding is imperative for medical research, education of first responders, and for bereavement support services.  Each meeting taken with a Congress member’s aide was a positive (and hopefully productive) experience.

 It is estimated that nearly 30,000 babies die as a result of stillbirth in the U.S. each year.
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Change doesn’t happen without your voice being heard.  We are our children’s voices.  For more information, please visit www.MissingAngelsBill.org
July 2004