[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 40 (Wednesday, April 1, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S2966]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     DEATH OF COLLEEN CLEARY-MYERS

  Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I rise today to offer tribute to the 
late Ms. Colleen Cleary-Myers and to offer condolences to her family on 
their loss.
  Mrs. Cleary-Myers was a beloved wife, daughter and mother. I describe 
her this way not only because it is true, but because, in a very 
literal way, it was these ties to these people that helped to define 
her life. It is these ties which are her legacy.
  Mrs. Cleary-Myers, only 30 years old, died of complications 
associated with a rare form of leukemia called chronic myleogensis. 
When she learned she was suffering from this illness, she was joyfully 
pregnant with her first child. Her husband, Michael, shared in this joy 
and grateful anticipation. In this way, she resembled most other young 
mothers. But unlike them, she was faced with a cruel choice: she could 
be treated immediately and risk the life of her baby or she could delay 
chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant, be treated after the child's 
birth and be unable to have more children. When faced with this 
dilemma, she did a noble thing. She chose to postpone treatment and 
looked forward to the birth of her son, Derek Vincent.
  Upon learning the news, Mrs. Cleary-Myers' family resolved to support 
her in any way that they could. Two of her sisters were compatible 
matches for the required bone marrow transplant and both were eager to 
assist her.
  Tragically, Mrs. Cleary-Myers died on March 15th. While I join her 
family in mourning her untimely death, I also am uplifted by the 
example and the standard she sets for all of us. Her example is the 
example of unselfish love and the standard she sets of willing and 
uncomplaining sacrifice for the sake of another life is one to which we 
can all aspire. Because this young woman knew, in an intimate way, a 
simple truth: Every life is infinitely precious and valuable.
  Too often, when confronted with an example of courage and sacrifice, 
we tell ourselves that others are capable of , and perhaps called to, 
such behavior, but we, most surely, are not. I believe this conclusion 
is a mistake. The example of Mrs. Cleary-Myers, a young woman living 
happily and without notoriety, reminds us that we are all capable of 
such gallantry and, in different ways, are called to it. Her son, Derek 
Vincent, provides us with eloquent testimony that such gallantry can 
sometimes mean nothing less than the protection of life itself. May God 
bless her, her husband and little Derek Vincent.

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