[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 24, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S1072]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CONGRATULATING JANET MURNAGHAN

  Mr. TOOMEY. Today I wish to honor Delaware County's Janet Murnaghan, 
who will be receiving the Women of Achievement Award from the Delaware 
County Women's Commission on March 11. Mrs. Murnaghan was chosen as an 
awardee for representing women of Delaware County in an extraordinary 
way, specifically by displaying incredible thoughtfulness, persistence 
and passion in caring for her daughter, Sarah.
  It was my privilege to nominate Janet for this accolade in 
celebration of Women's History Month. Janet, her husband, Fran, and I 
first met 2 years ago at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Their 
daughter was battling cystic fibrosis and was in dire need of new lungs 
to save her young life. Though their daughter, Sarah, would have likely 
ranked near the top of the donor list for a new lung because of her 
medical need, a Federal policy prevented children under the age of 12 
from being considered for mature lungs until all adult candidates in 
the region were ruled out. Sarah faced long odds at receiving a 
lifesaving transplant due to the short supply of pediatric donors. This 
obstacle would not stop Janet and the Murnaghan family. Sarah's mother 
took the fight to social media, to national TV and eventually directly 
to then Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Janet 
argued that children under age 12 should be considered for adult lung 
transplants using the same criteria as adults as long as doctors 
demonstrated the operation's viability.
  The Murnaghan family was eventually forced to pursue legal action to 
prevent Secretary Sebelius from enforcing the under-12 rule. Even in 
the most difficult moments, Mrs. Murnaghan remained levelheaded and 
resilient. Her determination was rewarded as a Federal judge issued a 
temporary restraining order, allowing young Sarah to receive the 
lifesaving transplant. While the first set of lungs failed due to their 
poor quality, the second set was perfect. Sarah is now breathing on her 
own, bike riding with her siblings, and has already returned to school.
  Janet and Sarah could not declare victory just yet. Though there was 
success in Sarah's specific case, the rule preventing children from 
receiving adult lungs was still in place. Last summer, thanks to Janet 
Murnaghan and other advocates, the transplant network permanently 
revised the under-12 policy. Without Janet taking a leadership role on 
behalf of her daughter and children across the Nation, this policy 
might not have been changed. She has certainly set herself apart as a 
woman of achievement.
  On behalf of the Senate, I wish to extend my compliments to my 
friend, Janet Murnaghan, as she receives this much-deserved, 
prestigious award.

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