[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 76 (Thursday, June 3, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S6446]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MELISSA CENTRELLA

 Mr. CORZINE. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize and to 
remember an extraordinarily courageous young lady from New Jersey, Ms. 
Melissa Anne Centrella. It is with great sadness that I inform you that 
Melissa passed away 2 years ago. She was 25 years old when she died. In 
Melissa's short time here on Earth she displayed an uncommon grace and 
dignity which we all should emulate.
  As a child, Melissa was like every young girl--she was cheerful, she 
loved her parents, and she loved to dance. However, Melissa was 
diagnosed at an early age with the rare disorder called dystonia. 
Dystonia is a neurological disorder characterized by powerful and 
painful involuntary muscle spasms that cause twisting of the body, 
repetitive muscle movements, and sustained postural deformities. 
Melissa lived with the constant pain of dystonia for 18 years. As the 
years passed, Melissa's life became more and more constrained. She was 
eventually confined to a wheelchair and then bedridden. Melissa passed 
away from complications of this disorder.
  Melissa endured many painful medical procedures to assess and attempt 
to treat dystonia. She suffered through a series of spinal taps, 
intrathecal pump implantations, and the preparations for deep brain 
stimulation surgery. Melissa, on several occasions, was overdosed with 
her medication leading to seizures and once to a 3-day coma. Through 
all the pain, she accepted her suffering with dignity and never once 
complained.
  Melissa believed she was put on Earth for a reason, that God had a 
plan for her. That reason was to be a part of the mission to find a 
cure for dystonia, so that no one else would have to experience the 
torture that she experienced in her short life. Many in her position 
would have given up, but not Melissa. Melissa was relentless in pushing 
Claire, her mother, to establish the New Jersey Chapter of the Dystonia 
Medical Research Foundation, DMRF.
  The chapter today holds many events to raise funds for dystonia 
research and promotes awareness of dystonia. Whenever Claire became 
depressed or understandably overcome with distress, Melissa would 
gently prod her along and remind her of their mission together as a 
family. Melissa was the only child of Claire and August Centrella. I 
would like to salute Claire Centrella and her family for picking up the 
mantle and running with it in memory of Melissa.
  Melissa's body lost its battle; however, her soul battles on in her 
mother and the New Jersey Chapter to improve the quality of life for 
others with dystonia. Melissa Centrella's memory will live on in those 
of us she touched and in those who share her mission. Melissa will 
never be forgotten, and her mission will continue through her family's 
and friends' hard work and determination.
 Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute and 
to remember a courageous young lady from New Jersey, Ms. Melissa Anne 
Centrella. Sadly, Melissa passed away 2 years ago, at the age of 25, 
from complications due to a disease known as dystonia. Much of 
Melissa's short life was dedicated to battling dystonia, which affects 
more than 300,000 people in North America.
  Melissa was diagnosed at an early age with dystonia, which is the 
third most common movement disorder after Parkinson's disease and 
tremor. This neurological disease is characterized by powerful and 
painful involuntary muscle spasms that cause twisting of the body, 
repetitive muscle movements and sustained postural deformities. 
Although she endured many painful medical procedures to treat her 
dystonia, Melissa never once complained. Instead, she became a part of 
the effort to find a cure for dystonia, so no one else would have to 
experience the pain she suffered in her short life.
  Along with her mother Claire, Melissa worked relentlessly to 
establish the New Jersey Chapter of the Dystonia Medical Research 
Foundation. The chapter today holds many events to raise funds for 
dystonia research and promotes awareness of dystonia. I would like to 
salute the Centrella family for the work they have done to found and 
support the New Jersey Chapter of the foundation. Today, because of 
Melissa Centrella, her family and others who have fought alongside them 
against dystonia, we are closer than ever to a cure.
  Mr. President, it is important that we recognize the fight against 
dystonia. Although there is not yet a cure for dystonia, we will 
continue the work of Melissa Centrella and remember her fight against 
this disease.

                          ____________________