[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 97 (Wednesday, June 17, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E916]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    REMEMBERING JOAN MARIE DONNELLY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ALAN GRAYSON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 17, 2015

  Mr. GRAYSON. Mr. Speaker, on July 16, 2010 at 2:45 p.m., an email was 
sent to proud grandparents to announce the birth of their seventeenth 
grandchild, born earlier that day, ``Mom and baby boy are both doing 
well''. Joan Marie Donnelly had given birth to her son, Max. Her 
parents, Bob and Rose Mary Donnelly, were overjoyed and her husband and 
daughter, Todd and Sofie Marie, were preparing for little Max's 
homecoming. What a spectacular moment in a family's life. 
Unfortunately, this abundance of happiness soon turned into tragedy. 
Joan suffered from eclampsia and died at their home just days after 
giving birth on August 6, 2010.
  Worldwide, preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy 
are a leading cause of maternal and infant illness and death. Thousands 
of women and babies die or get very sick each year from preeclampsia, a 
life-threatening disorder that occurs only during pregnancy and the 
postpartum period. Eclampsia is a variant of preeclampsia that causes 
seizures to occur. For Joan, this tragedy could have been prevented, 
but instead Joan succumbed to a perfect storm of neglected symptoms.
  ``The Donnelly Clan'', a Catholic, Irish and Italian Family from West 
Virginia included Bob, Rose Mary and their nine children. Joan was 
their eighth child, born on May 24, 1967. Joan had a wonderful smile 
and a laugh that was contagious and she had dreams to travel, start a 
career, fall in love, have children, save animals, and help her family. 
Her dreams came true when she moved to Florida and started her 22-year 
career with Walt Disney World. She met Todd in 2001 when the two became 
good friends while traveling. They were married in Florence, Italy in 
2006.
  Joan had three pregnancies with two births as did her youngest 
sister, Mia. Their mother similarly had twelve pregnancies with nine 
births. These three women were each diagnosed with preeclampsia, are 
diabetic, and suffered miscarriages. The death of a child is one of the 
hardest obstacles in life. The pain of having your child go before you 
is unspeakable.
  Joan's life was celebrated at her funeral mass on August 12, 2010 
with over 300 mourners. Joan will be remembered, not by her death, but 
by how she lived her life.
  Joan's family has hope that changes can be made to federal law in 
honor of Joan to save women who are at high risk of preeclampsia from 
suffering as she did. The family advocates for a number of reforms to 
prevent eclampsia including better screening during pregnancy; proper 
testing; more education for patients and doctors on preeclampsia and 
eclampsia; and longer hospital stays. Joan's family will continue to 
educate the public about preeclampsia and eclampsia by talking about 
Joan to all that will listen so that her untimely death is not in vain.

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