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

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

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

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Julia DeGiovanni; and

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

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

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

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ruptured aneurysm that had developed undetected; and

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

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

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

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extensive rehabilitation; and

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

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

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

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

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time in intensive care at Rhode Island Hospital; and

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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commencement ceremony; now, therefore be it

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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