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Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Petition

On June 1, 2009 my son, Wyatt Nathaniel Finchum was born at 10:03 a.m. He had a faint heartbeat and was breathing, which was a miracle, as doctors advised us we would probably never see him alive. He died two minutes later. However, due to Tennessee’s definition of “live birth”, my doctor was not able to medically acknowledge his life. He was listed as stillborn.


I won’t deny the fact that my son was dying as soon as he was born, but he lived... he fought to breathe for those two minutes and his life deserves to be acknowledged. I would like to get Tennessee’s definition of live birth amended to a more acceptable definition that recognizes life
no matter how short it may be.


It currently states:

"...the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of human conception, irrespective of the duration of the pregnancy, that, after such expulsion or extraction, breathes or shows any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles, whether or not the umbilical cord has been cut or the placenta is attached. Heartbeats shall be distinguished from transient cardiac contraction, and respirations shall be distinguished from fleeting respiratory efforts or gasps..."

I propose the definition to be changed to the State of Maine’s definition which states:

"...the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of human conception, irrespective of the duration of the pregnancy, that, after such expulsion or extraction, breathes or shows any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles, whether or not the umbilical cord has been cut or the placenta is attached. Each product of such a birth is considered live born and fully recognized as a human person under Maine (change to Tennessee) Law.


If you are a Tennessee resident, and support life to be recognized, please sign this petition. Also, listed below is a link to our elected officials contact information. E-mails, letters of support, and phone calls to these officials are greatly appreciated. I appreciate your help in getting my son’s life recognized, and preventing other families from being told their child’s life was “not worth recognizing”.

If you are NOT a Tennessee resident, but have family or friends in Tennessee, please direct them to my petition or have them contact their local representative, congressmen, senator, and governor. All local contact information for Tennessee can be found at: http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/government/elected.html

(You can link up with Mcklinky at the bottom of this post even if you are NOT a Tennessee resident)


My personal points of contact are as follows.


Representative Richard Montgomery

301 6th Avenue North
Suite 201 War Memorial Building
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone (615) 741-5981
Fax (615) 253-0303

rep.richard.montgomery@capitol.tn.gov

Senator Doug Overbey

301 6th Avenue North
Suite 4 Legislative Plaza
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: (615) 741-0981

sen.doug.overbey@capitol.tn.gov

Governor Phil Bredesen

Governor's Office
Tennessee State Capitol
Nashville, TN 37243-0001

Phone: 615.741.2001
Fax: 615.532.9711
Phil.Bredesen@tn.gov

Please go to http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/recognize-life-in-tennessee to sign the petition I created. Once you have done so, or you just want to show your support and don't live in Tennessee, link up on McKlinky. Thank you for your support and prayers.

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5 comments:

Holly said...

You're off to a great start!! I hope that lots of people from Tennessee help you out! I know I would if I lived there! BTW how close are you to Chattanooga?

Tina said...

I read over that law about 3 times to understand it. It's kind of a tricky one isn't it? It doesn't state that it's not considered a live birth........but since it doesn't state that "it is"....that's where they are giving you the trouble.

I am sorry that you are having to go through such heartache, fighting for your own son to be recognized.

I will continue to pray that you & your families seek what you are looking for. Wyatt was beautiful!

In Christ,
Christina

Caroline said...

I can't believe they are putting you or anyone else thru this. I wish I lived in the state I would sign it for you. I'm praying for you & your family. I hope that you can change things in that state. Prayers & {{HUGS}}
Caroline

Franchesca said...

Danielle, do you have to live in Tennessee to sign it? I did and it let me (I live in Texas)

Anonymous said...

I live in TN and I signed ... I am passing it on to all of my family because they all live in TN too. I hope you get all of your signatures.