By Mary Welander
State Rep., D-114
Mary Welander
It’s not often in the world of politics that you can provide updates quickly. It’s even more rare when it’s good news.
This is one of those rare times.
Last month, before the legislative session ended, I wrote about the bill I wrote to protect children from online abuse and exploitation and promised to keep fighting for it. I am absolutely thrilled to share that on June 15, Gov. Ned Lamont signed this legislation into law. Children in Connecticut will now have stronger legal protections and law enforcement will be able to prosecute those adults who knowingly and intentionally set out to abuse children through online communications.
Thank you to Roo Powell for her advocacy and expertise in this process and the team at SOSA for their dedication toward preventing this abuse.
The good news doesn’t stop there.
Shortly after I was elected, I had a conversation with a constituent, Katie Irwin, who graciously shared her family’s story of heartbreak, loss, a shocking discovery and her mission to honor her daughter through action. Years earlier, Katie had developed a horrible infection while pregnant which tragically resulted in her daughter, Scarlet, being stillborn. Almost immediately after that heartbreaking loss, while grieving and seriously ill, Katie was required to sign burial documents. Katie later discovered that those documents, which she was not in any condition to sign, meant her daughter had been buried in an unmarked grave a few miles away.
I can only imagine what the layers of grief in that situation would feel like. I promised Katie that I would do whatever I could to ensure that another family in Connecticut would never have that experience again.
For three years I have fought for legislation to require a minimum amount of time for families to make decisions after experiencing a stillbirth. We met roadblock after roadblock, but we kept pushing. On June 6 I was able to call Katie with the news that it had passed the House and the Senate and would be sent to the governor to sign. I think Katie’s own words make it clear how important this is:
“I just received the most amazing phone call,” she said. “Five years ago, I set out to pass a law in Connecticut to give mothers of stillborn angels more time. Time to sign papers. Time to take pictures. Time to introduce their baby to siblings, grandparents. Time to make decisions. Time is the only thing mothers and fathers of stillborn babies get. We leave empty handed, hearts destroyed forever. As of July 1, 2023, grieving parents will now have time in Connecticut with their angels born sleeping.”
It has been an honor to work with Katie on this. Additionally, Katie created Scarlet’s Mission, which raises funds to purchase and donate CuddleCots for hospitals; CuddleCots create a cool environment that allows grieving families more time with their babies born stillborn.
These moments make this work so rewarding and special and I am incredibly grateful to this district for giving me the chance to serve my community and help others.