Sponsored by:
Senator CARMEN F. AMATO, JR.
District 9 (Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Designates February 12th of each year as Carly Day in NJ.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating February 12th of each year as Carly Day in New Jersey.
Whereas, Congenital heart defects are problems with the structure of the heart that are present at birth and change the normal flow of blood through the heart; and
Whereas, The most common congenital heart defects involve the inside walls of the heart, the valves of the heart, and the large blood vessels that carry blood to and from the heart; and
Whereas, Some defects are simple and require no treatment, while others are critical and require treatment soon after birth; and
Whereas, 9 out of every 1,000 babies born in the US will be born with a heart defect; and
Whereas, As a result of research and medical advances most people with congenital heart defects survive through adulthood. Adults now outnumber children among the more than 2.4 million people living with a congenital heart defect in the US; and
Whereas, Bayville resident Carly Fetzer was born with a congenital heart defect known as hypoplastic left heart syndrome; and
Whereas, In Carlys first years of life, she had three surgeries to reroute her bodys blood flow and despite the odds she lived 18 remarkable years before she passed away; and
Whereas, Carly was a loving person who brought smiles to everyone around her. Her family and the Berkeley Township community remember Carly for her courage; and
Whereas, Her perseverance allowed her to enjoy life while battling a congenital heart defect and graduate from Central Regional High School in 2018; and
Whereas, Carly was a special needs ambassador at the Bayville Elks Lodge in Berkeley Township where she played Challenger sports with her peers; and
Whereas, Her favorite pastimes included talking on the phone, attending her twin sister Ryannes softball games, and vacationing in Myrtle Beach; and
Whereas, Carlys friends and family established the Carly Fetzer Queen of Hearts Foundation in NJ to honor Carly. The foundation provides food vouchers to families at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia and donates money to research studies that focus on children with congenital heart defects; and
Whereas, New Jersey was the first state to implement a legislatively mandated newborn pulse oximetry screening in all licensed birthing facilities to detect critical congenital heart defects; and
Whereas, Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week is observed nationally each year from February 7th to February 14th; and
Whereas, Designating February 12th as Carly Day would provide New Jerseyans with an annual reminder on the effects that congenital heart defects have on individuals diagnosed with a congenital heart defect in the State; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. February 12th of each year shall be designated as Carly Day in New Jersey to bring awareness to congenital heart defects and their effect on those living with a congenital heart defect in the State.
2. The Governor is respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation recognizing February 12th as Carly Day in New Jersey.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This resolution designates February 12th of each year as Carly Day in New Jersey. Bayville resident Carly Fetzer was born with a congenital heart defect known as hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Congenital heart defects are problems with the structure of the heart that are present at birth and change the normal flow of blood through the heart. In the US, 9 out of every 1,000 babies will be born with a heart defect. In Carlys first years of life, she had three surgeries to reroute her bodys blood flow and despite the odds she lived 18 remarkable years before she passed away. Carlys friends and family established the Carly Fetzer Queen of Hearts Foundation to honor Carly. The foundation provides food vouchers to families at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia and donates money to research studies that focus on children with congenital heart defects. Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week is observed annually from February 7th to February 14th. Designating February 12th as Carly Day would provide New Jerseyans with an annual reminder on the effects that congenital heart defects have on individuals diagnosed with a congenital heart defect in the State.