Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) is a gastrointestial disease which typically affects premature babies. The disease creates both an infection and inflammation in the bowels. It is still rare in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units, but when a preemie gets it, chances of survival decrease dramatically.

NEC seems to occur within the first two weeks of birth. The baby usually has started milk feeding. There is still no known cause, only theories.

NEC can have up to a 40% death rate and children who survive it can have life-long issues.

There is no awareness for this disease. I want to petition for Obama to declare June 14th NEC awareness day and a periwinkle ribbon with a cream and black butterfly to be the official ribbon. June 14th, 2007 is the day that my daughter was born at 29 weeks 5 days. She lived for 23 short days. She caught NEC and it shut down her kidneys. She died of Renal Failure as a direct complication of NEC on July 7, 2007.

Please help me gain signatures to send this petition to President Obama