Karen and Bill Klinzing
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Karen and Bill Klinzing |
Proud parents of 5 children: Kathleen (7), Emma (5), and Marie (1) are growing up happy and healthy in their home. Baby brother William born in 2003, would have been 3 by now, but he died of a hospital staph infection following three surgeries he underwent to repair his Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (missing left diaphragm.) Now, Karen and Bill are awaiting the arrival of their 5th child, a daughter named Hannah Grace, who has been diagnosed with Trisomy 18, an extra 18th chromosome. Hannah has a high probability of being stillborn and an almost 100% chance of passing away before she is a year old. Karen was a state legislator in the Minnesota House of Representatives for 4 years, 2 terms. While there, she was the chief author of the law that allows parents of babies who are stillborn to obtain a Record of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth. She also authored legislation, which passed the MN House but not the Senate, that would allow parents of babies who are born live but pass before the parents can obtain a birth certificate, to obtain a clean birth certificate that is not stamped with the death of the baby. Karen is currently Assistant Commissioner of Academic Excellence for the Minnesota Department of Education. Bill is an engineer at 3M.
E2
Session Descriptions:
E2
Born Too Soon: Recognizing the Impact a Dream Lost: Encouraging caregiver sensitivity for parents of premature babies and babies born with birth defects, Joyce Baughman, RN, NICU nurse for more than 20 years, addresses ways the health professional team can provide continuity of care while being in-tune to the needs of the family for both the good and bad outcome. Panelists share what was helpful and how their care providers could have been more effective: Heidi Ciepielinski, bereaved mother and author of When a Baby Dies; Representative Kurt Zellers and wife, Kim, parents of 3 babies, 2 of whom were born at 23 and 28 weeks; Representative Karen Klinzing and husband, Bill