“The term, Missing Angels, references all stillborn infants, many of whom die just prior to birth or at term,” explained Joanne Cacciatore, founder and director of the MISS Foundation, which championed the bill.
Arizona legislators worked with supporters of this change to draft and then enact the Missing Angels bill. The bill provides for the issuance of a “Certificate of Birth Resulting in Still Birth.” No other state in the U.S. issues birth certificates for stillborns despite the fact that the mother did “give birth.” Arizona will be the first. An example of the importance the legislature placed on this issue is the fact the Senate passed it on a unanimous 30 – 0 vote.
Attending the public signing ceremony held June 11, 2001 in the Office of the Governor were (from left front) Rep. Marilyn Jarrett, Governor Jane D. Hull, Joanne Cacciatore, Debbie Vinette, Millie Lawton, grandmother of Camille Rayana Olsen, Cindi Nannetti, Paula Mikkelson, Doreen Sexton, Heidi Brashears, Karen Wondra, Jami Garrison, (2nd row) Marilyn Caskey, Robin Kennedy, Sharon Olsen, Dean Synan, David Garard, Carl Brashears, Senator Mark Anderson, Tammy Haimovitz, and (not pictured) Randy Force, Richard Olsen, and Tim Dougherty. State Senator Andy Nichols, who was a steadfast supporter of the bill, died unexpectedly in April. “His presence at the ceremony was missed,” said founder, Joanne Cacciatore, “I will always remember him with fondness for his tremendous compassion and love for humanity.”
The entire state of Arizona mourns the death of a wonderful man and senator, Dr. Andy Nichols. I met Dr. Nichols on February 22, 2001. I was spearheading the efforts for HB2416, the act which would issue the change in birth certificates for term stillborn infants. The bill was going to be heard in the senate health committee and I called to schedule a meeting with Senator Nichols, member of this committee, to discuss any questions or concerns he may have about this bill.Our meeting was supposed to last 15 minutes. Instead, we talked in his office for nearly an hour. I told him the story of Cheyenne's birth and death, and the physiological trauma I endured during her delivery. I described the events surrounding her death with detached emotion, as I had told about fifty other legislators in my lobby efforts preceding this meeting. As I continued through my story, I looked up and saw tears running down his face.
While all the legislators had been kind and generous with their time, Senator Nichols was the first to share such emotional depth. He had many questions for me about the impetus for the bill and vowed his support our cause.
In the week that followed, I thought about our meeting over and over. I was so impressed by his wisdom and humanity- by the goodness of his spirit. There was a light in his eyes that moved me. I sent him an email touting him as my "Person of the Year," praise he humbly accepted.
We kept in contact about the bill and on March 20, 2001, Senator Nichols kept his commitment and voted for the passage of HB2416. It did pass, unanimously, out of the health committee hearing and eventually, also unanimously, out of the senate.
But the real miracle here is the man, Dr. Andy Nichols. He was a good man- gentle, yet a leader- strong, yet compassionate, inquisitive, yet honest. Not a day passed since our first meeting that I haven't thought about his kindness that day in February. It is so rare to encounter a person with such dignity and integrity.
On Thursday night, April 19, 2001, I got the call that Senator Nichols died. I was speechless. I had hoped that he would continue to serve in the Arizona legislature for many years to come. I had hoped he would grace us with his foresight and experience, helping the citizens of thisstate acheive the goals that would benefit the people. This is a terrible loss for his family, his friends, and the state of Arizona.I will never forget Dr. and Senator Andy Nichols. His legacy will live on through the meritorious work he has acheived in the Arizona senate. He has helped to change us for the better and I am thankful that, even if for a brief time, I had the honor and privilege to know him.
Andrew W. Nichols, M.D. M.P.H. was a professor of Family and Community Medicine and Director of the Rural Health Office at the University of Arizona. Dr. Nichols was trained in public health and medicine. He served as Medical Director for the Peace Corps in Peru and was active in US-Mexico border health organizations, including the Arizona-Mexico Commission, the Arizona-Mexico Border Health Foundation, the US-Mexico Border Health Association and the Governor's Binational Border Health Task Force. He has received fellowships from the Fogarty International Center and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to study health policy issues. He served as a representative in the Arizona Legislature.
