UPDATE: Maryland Pediatric Stroke Legislation Hearing

UPDATE: Maryland Pediatric Stroke Legislation Hearing

On Wednesday, March 14, 2018, members of The Laney Jaymes Foundation (“the Foundation”) attended a hearing to support a Maryland bill which would require pediatric stroke training to child care providers and educators.  In support of the bill, Brian Fitzsimons provided testimony regarding the repeated misdiagnoses that Laney received, while his wife Laura held poster-sized pictures of Laney for the entire committee to see.  The committee and attendees were moved and impacted by the testimony, and the delegate assigned to Odenton, Joseline A. Pena-Melnyk, met with Laura, Brian and the Foundation following the hearing.  Ms. Pena-Melnyk vowed to do everything in her power to help the bill succeed and has been successful in moving the bill from the House to the Senate, with the hope that a final floor vote will be coming soon.

If you can spare a few minutes, please send a quick email to Ms. Pena-Melnyk thanking her for championing this important bill.  Her email is: joseline.pena.melnyk@house.state.md.us

Since the testimony, two prominent pediatric stroke foundations — Pediatric Stroke Warriors and International Alliance for Pediatric Stroke — have reached out for permission to share a video of the testimony, to help further their national agendas for pediatric stroke awareness and legislation.  Apparently, the testimony and appearance of the Foundation, including Foundation directors Corey Schuster, Brian Vann, and John Lucas, is having a major impact in this Maryland legislation and may have an impact in nationwide initiatives.  Thank you all for your continued support.  We could not do this without you.