2019 -- S 0924

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LC002644

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING JULIA DEGIOVANNI ON ATTAINING HER BACHELOR’S

DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Senators Morgan, Rogers, Algiere, de la Cruz, and Paolino

     Date Introduced: May 30, 2019

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, There is an old Japanese Proverb that states, "Fall seven times and stand up

eight" and it could not be a more relevant or fitting description of the life and determination of

Julia DeGiovanni; and

     WHEREAS, On December 9th of 2011, while a freshman student at the University of

Rhode Island, Julia collapsed. She was rushed to health services, and later to Rhode Island

Hospital, where she was diagnosed with congenital arterial malformation and operated on for a

ruptured aneurysm that had developed undetected; and

     WHEREAS, Through Christmas and the New Year, with family and friends constantly

by her side, Julia spent two weeks in an induced coma after having part of her skull removed, and

another three weeks at the hospital before being transferred to Spaulding Cambridge to begin her

extensive rehabilitation; and

     WHEREAS, Unable to talk, vision impaired, and with major mobility obstacles to

overcome, Julia developed a heterotopic ossification, which is an abnormal bone growth, that

once again required her to endure surgery and an excruciatingly painful recovery process. Shortly

after, her doctors found another arterial malformation, requiring yet another surgery and more

time in intensive care at Rhode Island Hospital; and

     WHEREAS, In time Julia was transferred to Spaulding Hospital to restart her

rehabilitation, but shortly thereafter, a head-bleed required a rush visit to Massachusetts General

Hospital and more surgery. On May 9th of 2012, Julia finally went home to the welcoming arms

of her family and a hero's welcome from her entire community; and

     WHEREAS, After eight years of surgeries, intensive therapy and rehabilitation,

continued physical, occupational and speech therapy, and blessed with the total love and

unending-support of her parents, Kelly and Michael, her sister, Alyzza, her language and reading

specialist Tammy Lyons, communication lecturer Joanne Mundorf, countless physicians, hospital

staff and ambulance services, her ever-faithful service dog, Willis, as well as the entire

community of her hometown of Hope Valley, Julia will receive her Bachelor's degree in

Communication Studies with a minor in Sustainability at the University of Rhode Island's 2019

commencement ceremony; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby congratulates Julia DeGiovanni on attaining her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of

Rhode Island, and applauds her inspirational journey in achieving her goals. We moreover wish

her good health and fulfillment, and extend our sincerest wishes for her continued success, and

for all the very best that life has to offer; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Ms. Julia DeGiovanni.

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