Deasy resolution recognizing May 17 as NEC Day in PA passes PA House
Rep. Dan Deasy May 8, 2024 | 3:01 PM
HARRISBURG, May 8 – State Rep. Dan Deasy, D-Allegheny, today announced that a resolution he sponsored recognizing May 17, 2024, as Necrotizing Enterocolitis Day in Pennsylvania passed the PA House.
Necrotizing Enterocolitis, or NEC, is the most common cause of death in hospitalized premature infants after two weeks of age.
“NEC affects babies born prematurely or with medical complications typically,” Deasy said. “But even babies born to term can succumb to this illness. One of my own constituents, Cash Owen Finegan, son of Shannan and Cassius Finegan, lived for 68 brave days before succumbing to NEC complications. After hearing the heartbreaking story and the frustration these families face, I felt it was important to recognize this terrible disease and help to create awareness about it.”
Roughly 7% of premature babies develop NEC and, of those, about 25% do not survive. Many of these babies only live for a few hours or days and surgery for NEC is not curative. Oftentimes, the babies who do survive have lifelong neurological and nutritional complications.
“We are so happy to be here today to see the passage of this important bill in memory of our son, Cash. We are honored to help spread awareness not only for Cash but for all for those babies who lost their lives to NEC,” said Shannan Finnegan, who is also a member of the NEC Society.
The NEC Society is an organization dedicated to building a world without the disease by advancing NEC research, education and advocacy. It is a patient-led organization that collaborates with expert clinicians and researchers to better understand, prevent and treat NEC.
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