| A LITTLE RED LIGHT
Nora Bongiovanni was born nine weeks early and spent the first 14 weeks of her life in the NICU.
Nora’s family live in Chester County, but her mom, Grace, chose to work for a New Jersey company because Jersey provides paid family medical leave. Grace had no idea how valuable that decision would turn out to be.
Because of paid family medical leave, Grace was able to be at Nora’s side during those precious early weeks. “Whether to be with your newborn or be able to pay your bills should not be a decision that NICU families have to make,” said Grace.
“I was able to spend every day by Nora’s side through multiple surgeries, endless stressful days, and many complex and difficult decisions. Not having to worry about work allowed me to be there mentally, physically, and emotionally. I quickly learned this was not the norm for most parents.
“The NICU rigged cameras on each baby that allowed parents to view their kids if they able weren’t there. When the camera was on, a little red light appeared. I remember one baby having the little red light on all day while the mom watched from afar because she had to be at work.
“I remember another mom who had to go to work because she only received four weeks off and she knew that her baby’s needs were going to be very great when he came home, and it was more important for her to save the leave for that time.
“Everyone wants to be a good parent. The difference was I was a lucky parent, a parent that was lucky enough to have paid leave to be there with Nora and to help her out as she recovered.”
Being lucky is not a recommended parenting or policy strategy; passing paid family medical leave is. That’s why Republicans and Democrats are working together to pass The Family Care Act (HB 200), which would create an affordable paid family medical leave insurance fund in Pennsylvania, allowing up to 20 weeks of paid leave to bond with a new baby or care for a family member or yourself during a seriously medical issue.
Baby Nora’s story also points to a more practical need for The Family Care Act: Pennsylvania businesses are less competitive. Our neighboring states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland could well entice many of the four million Pennsylvania workers currently without paid leave.
The good news is that The Family Care Act is the first paid family medical leave bill in Pennsylvania to pass out of committee and head toward a vote by the House!
Too many NICU red camera lights will remain on unless the legislature passes The Family Care Act. You can help by telling your state representative to support this critical legislation.
|
