Abigail Ruth - June 4, 2006

Today is Abigail's birthday. Our daughter, our Angel, our Love. Words to describe my feelings have not come, and my heart is filled with longing.

As life moves forward, I think of ways in which I can "do something" about the fact that babies die all too often without an answer. Maybe I can be a voice for those babies and mothers who all too often sit on an island of emptiness for one day too many. Thankfully, stillbirths are slowly being recognized by states across the country. The news story below was forwarded to me from FirstCandle.

Bill creating certificate in stillbirth passes Pa. Senate

Posted: May 25, 2011 10:43 AM EDT
Updated: May 25, 2011 10:45 AM EDT
By Myles Snyder - emailHARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) - The state Senate has unanimously passed legislation that allows parents to request a "Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth" from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Senate Bill 326 would provide parents with documentation when a child is stillborn, according to Sen. Jake Corman, R-Bellefonte, who sponsored the measure.

"Stillbirths are a tragedy for parents, and often times they feel no sense of healing or closure because there is no documentation of their child's birth," Corman said in a news release.

Parents would have the option of having the name of the child, the names of the parents and birthplace included on the certificate. The cost would be covered by the parent and would be the same as a death certificate.

Corman said at least 20 other states have adopted similar legislation.

The bill now goes to the state House of Representatives for consideration.

End Stillbirth