Meeting Public Comments

Stephanie Klappholz

Health and Human Services Subcommittee of the Iowa Senate, My name is Stephanie Klappholz and I am a mother of three girls, an Assistant Professor of Nursing, and former Emergency Department Nurse & Clinical Education Specialist. I have a unique perspective to offer regarding House File 807: An Act creating the compassion and care for medically challenging Pregnancies. At a time in pregnancy where most motherstobe are preparing their nurseries and being celebrated at baby showers hosted by close family and friends, I was undergoing inpatient experimental treatments and memorizing each kick and heartbeat, and while trying to avoid thoughts of endoflife care for my baby. Our daughter, Cora Loras Klappholz, was stillborn at about 35 weeks after succumbing to a rare congenital heart defect. Although the diagnosis we were given was a lethal fetal anomaly, nothing prepares you for the sheer agony of being asked which funeral home you would like to send your babys body to right after the physical connection you had with her was severed. I never planned on making endoflife decisions for my child at the age of 31. Had it not been for the advocacy of our healthcare team, the trauma we endured would have been insurmountable. The funeral home that we selected, was chosen by chance of a quick Google search; Gay and Chia in Iowa City. As if walking out of the hospital with empty arms and an indescribable emptiness in my womb was not traumatic enough, knowing the financial burden that was to be handed to us alongside our daughters remains was incomprehensible. After receiving our daughter from the director, we opened our checkbook anticipating a $6000$9000 charge. With tears in his eyes, the funeral home director stated that there was no way in his consciousness that he could take our money after handing us our daughter in an urn the only means by which we could carry our baby home. This was one of the most selfless acts I could possibly imagine.Unbeknownst to many, there are a lot of great resources in our communities for these families that healthcare employees are not currently allowed to recommend. As a Nurse, I fully understand the concerns with conflict of interest and promoting one business or entity over another. But as a human being and a mother, I understand how isolating it feels when the world seems to keep on moving when our world stops and there is little to no direction as to which foot goes in front of the other. An open hand and little guidance mean the world when you dont know which way is up. So how can we navigate the ethical dilemma at hand? The proposed bill (HF 807) would allow advocates through newly established perinatal hospice services to guide mothers from the moment their world collapses and advocate for a lifetime of memories, salvation from financial ruin, and mental health support throughout the years to come.When considering this bill, please remember me and the parents of the other 20% of fetal deaths related to congenital anomalies (Iowa Registry for Congenital and Inherited Disorders IRCID, 2023). Please let me know what other information I may provide you with,Stephanie Klappholz, MSN, RN, CNEnCedar Rapids, IA, District 39

Rebekah Jacobs

Though Stephanie and Graces experiences are heart wrenching, I do not see where this bill allows the hospitals to direct people to different funeral arrangement services. This bill is for Hospice Services for prenatal babies diagnosed with a fatal anomaly. My problem with this bill is that the referral must include "a statement indicating that perinatal hospice services are an innovative and compassionate model of support for a pregnant woman who is informed that her baby has a lethal fetal anomaly and chooses to continue her pregnancy." I feel like this is virtue signaling during the mothers most difficult decision of her life. A mom in that situation shouldnt have guilt added to her burden. We should allow women to have all the choices, but they shouldnt be biased. Please vote OPPOSED to HF 807.