HJ575: Commending World Pediatric Project.


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 575
Commending World Pediatric Project.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 11, 2013
Agreed to by the Senate, January 17, 2013

 

WHEREAS, World Pediatric Project arranged for conjoined twins Maria and Teresa Tapia of the Dominican Republic to receive access to advanced medical care as a result of the organization’s work in Central America and the Caribbean; and

WHEREAS, the twins were conjoined at the chest and abdomen, sharing a liver and part of their gastrointestinal system, preventing Maria from receiving the nutrition needed to grow and thrive; and

WHEREAS, World Pediatric Project’s partner, Children’s Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University, agreed to accept their case; and

WHEREAS, the Hospital Hospitality House at Virginia Commonwealth University provided support and free lodging for the Tapia family during this process; and

WHEREAS, David A Lanning, M.D., Ph.D., Surgeon-in-Chief, Children’s Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University, led a team of more than 30 specialists to research the case and develop a surgical plan; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Lanning and his team successfully separated Maria and Teresa Tapia during a 20-hour surgery; and

WHEREAS, World Pediatric Project and Virginia Commonwealth University worked with the media to accurately and sensitively tell the story, therefore, creating a sense of pride in Richmond for the community’s skills, talents, expertise, and generosity for others; and

WHEREAS, the story was the most read story of the year for the Richmond Times-Dispatch and was told nationally and internationally in hundreds of print, online, and television media outlets, such as USA Today, MSNBC, and Inside Edition; and

WHEREAS, World Pediatric Project secured international attention for the case, the Richmond community, and the need for humanitarian work through an hour-long documentary on the twins that aired on The Learning Channel, now known as TLC, and Discovery Channel; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Lanning was awarded the highest civilian honor in the Dominican Republic, the Order of Merit of Christopher Columbus, rank of Knight, by the president of the Dominican Republic; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend World Pediatric Project on facilitating the successful separation of conjoined twins Maria and Teresa Tapia by Dr. David Lanning at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University and on the successful management of the case; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to World Pediatric Project, Dr. David Lanning, and Children’s Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect and gratitude for their commitment to generosity, partnerships, public service, and medical excellence in the Commonwealth.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 575

Offered January 9, 2013
Prefiled December 19, 2012
Commending World Pediatric Project.
Patron-- O'Bannon

WHEREAS, World Pediatric Project arranged for conjoined twins Maria and Teresa Tapia of the Dominican Republic to receive access to advanced medical care as a result of the organizations work in Central America and the Caribbean; and

WHEREAS, the twins were conjoined at the chest and abdomen, sharing a liver and part of their gastrointestinal system, preventing Maria from receiving the nutrition needed to grow and thrive; and

WHEREAS, World Pediatric Projects partner, Childrens Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University, agreed to accept their case; and

WHEREAS, David A Lanning, M.D., Ph.D., Surgeon-in-Chief, Childrens Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University, led a team of more than 30 specialists to research the case and develop a surgical plan; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Lanning and his team successfully separated Maria and Teresa Tapia during a 20-hour surgery; and

WHEREAS, World Pediatric Project and Virginia Commonwealth University worked with the media to accurately and sensitively tell the story, therefore creating a sense of pride in Richmond for the communitys skills, talents, expertise, and generosity for others; and

WHEREAS, the story was the most read story of the year for the Richmond Times-Dispatch and was told nationally and internationally in hundreds of print, online, and television media outlets, such as USA Today, MSNBC, and Inside Edition; and

WHEREAS, World Pediatric Project secured international attention for the case, the Richmond community, and the need for humanitarian work through an hour-long documentary on the twins that aired on The Learning Channel, now known as TLC, and Discovery Channel; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Lanning was awarded the highest civilian honor in the Dominican Republic, the Order of Merit of Christopher Columbus, rank of Knight, by the president of the Dominican Republic; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend World Pediatric Project on facilitating the successful separation of conjoined twins Maria and Teresa Tapia by Dr. David Lanning at Childrens Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University and on the successful management of the case; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to World Pediatric Project, Dr. David Lanning, and Childrens Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University as an expression of the General Assemblys respect and gratitude for their commitment to generosity, partnerships, public service, and medical excellence in the Commonwealth.