This holiday season, I have but one wish. I wish that every baby in Pennsylvania is given a pulse oximetry screening.

I have spent ten Christmases in tears. Please help keep another mom from knowing this kind of holiday.

Dylan Gordon was lucky he was not born a week earlier. Dylan was born a day before mandatory pulse oximtery screening in New Jersey took effect. The day he was to be discharged he had to be screened.  He looked so perfect. The simple, inexpensive, noninvasive was given just as he was to leave. His oxygen saturation did not pass the screening and a critcial congenital heart defect was discovered. Now, his parents and clinicians have time. Time to learn more and create a plan together.

One wish for Christmas or Hannukkah or Kwanzaa or any winter holiday. Please Pulse OX for newborns this Christmas.

“Nothing aches like having to watch the suffering of a newborn child. The pain we feel as a parent, a sibling, even an attending physician, defies description. When something simple can be done that averts that kind of suffering, it needs to happen.”  Dr. Ernest Leva a pediatrician from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation wrote in a recent article on the importance of pulse oximtery screening.

Intrigued? Learn more about the newborn screening that doesn’t require any needle  here.

Brandon Diallo was also lucky. He was born in New Jersey since the new requirements began. His life was saved as a result of this screening that costs less than a hospital diaper change.

Pennsylvania babies are not lucky right now. Even though they live in a state with three world renowned pediatric cardiology centers (New Jersey has zero) they are not universally screened via pulse oximetry for congenital heart defects.

But Pennsylvania babies can be safer. With the passage of Senate Bill 1202 (The James Matthew Mannix Bill) safety can reach the newborn isolette. At the most recent Newborn Screening Technical Advisory Board meeting the clinicians spoke of their support of this screening. However, they also realized because of the language of Act 36 Pennsylvania babies need this new federally recommended screening to be legislated at the state level.

It really is simple.

And you can truly spread peace on earth by saving the lives of newborns. Call or write your Pennsylvania legislator (Pat Vance is the Chairwoman of the PA Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee. Her contact information is here). Ask that they actively support SB 1202. Pennsylvania babies need this for Christmas.

Or many will not see one.

This evening, I was tagged in a growing list on Facebook statuses. A list of children who have died too soon – many newborns from congenital heart defects. It is a gift to see my son is remembered. It would be more of a gift to see more babies and mothers saved from this peace-less existence.

Pulse ox for Pennsylvania. For Christmas.

Please.

From Facebook:

Merry Christmas in Heaven: Hannah Ahrens ♥ Savannah Rose Maples ♥ Lindsay Dean ♥ Kayden Barnes ♥ Corbin Carothers ♥ Cora McCormick ♥ Chloe Duyck ♥ Samson Aziz-Wright ♥ David Whittington ♥ Jenna Ripple ♥ Aiden Beers ♥ Easton Beaver ♥ Michael Schmidt ♥ Serena Lesley ♥ Brooklyn Hall ♥ Peyton Dunn ♥ James Mannix ♥ Jessica Jensen ♥ Jayden Goodrum ♥ Olivia Davis ♥ Parker Everett ♥ Steve Catoe ♥ Innocence Riha ♥ Connor Winchester ♥ Alex Jantzen ♥ Alexander Gallegos ♥ Amanda Rivera Lozada ♥ Angel David ♥ Arwen Moodie ♥ Ashley Knight ♥ Caiden James ♥ Casey Luffman ♥ Cayman Frost ♥ Chloe Walker ♥ Christina Reynolds ♥ Christopher Parker ♥ Colin Sanders ♥ Corbin Grabb ♥ Daniel Mendez ♥ Dean Gandy ♥ Michael-Evans Thomas ♥ Elias Davis ♥ Emma Grace Scott ♥ Emma Younger ♥ Faith Venezia ♥ Geordyn Sardam♥ Hannah Gibson ♥ Harley Steele ♥ Hazel Heidelberger ♥ Henry Mercier ♥ Izzy B Schmoll ♥ Isla-Rose ♥ Jack Douglas Ostreko ♥ Jonah Cox ♥ Jordan Claire James ♥ Julio Teo Lopez ♥ Kailani Contreras ♥ Kaitlyn Scheibe ♥ Kala Poza ♥ Katlin Marie ♥ Lara Margherit ♥ Lauren Miller ♥ Lily Aarilyn Camp ♥ Lindsay Simpson ♥ Lorenzo Trujillo Jr ♥ Lucas Scott Foster ♥ Maddison Ella ♥ Makenna Montano ♥ Maverick Clark ♥ Noah Stassen ♥ Nolan Shewchuck ♥ Pierce Helms ♥ Samuel David Owens ♥ Samuel Hiciano ♥ Sawyer Erik Williams ♥ Seth Petreikis ♥ Seth Bonnett ♥ Shanyah Kennerly ♥ Shona-Lee Galea ♥ Tommy Dereksen ♥ Tru Serenity ♥ Tyler Logan ♥ Wyatt McGrory ♥ Zoe Chambers ♥ Zoe Sequoia ♥ Zoey Tate ♥ David Goffard Jr ♥Please add angels to be remembered and share in their honor ♥