HopeFromHolly

Holly’s Law: The Antibody Blood Titer Test

hopefromholly — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 11:29:35 +0000

Download This Pamphlet about Holly’s Law from the New Jersey Health and Senior Services Department website. The information found in the pamphlet is provided to every health care provider in the state of NJ who administers the MMR vaccine and should be given to parents whose children are between the ages of 4 and 6. If the information is not provided by your physician, you should inquire about this test prior to giving your child the second MMR. If your child has a positive titer level because of the first MMR, you may present the titer levels to the school. Do you believe in giving your child unnecessary medication? If not, then before vaccinating, educate yourselves by utilizing many different sources, your physician, other parents who are vaccine knowledgable and the National Vaccine Information Center Website.

Passing The Law

hopefromholly — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 11:28:26 +0000

On January 14, 2004, Governor James McGreevey signed the bill into law, Holly’s law. It was 4 days before Holly’s birthday anniversary so this made it even more special. She would have been 9 years old. I felt that this joyous, but bittersweet event was God helping to bring good from tragedy, as throughout the process I often repeated one of my favorite scripture verses at the time; Romans 8:28: “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” Of course, without the people who helped get this bill passed it would not be a law today and that is why I am thanking the legislators who signed on as sponsors and co-sponsors. It would be impossible to name all of the behind the scene people and my friends and family, but they all should know how much their support has meant for the children of New Jersey and their parents. If something good comes from such a horrible tragedy, the pain we have all endured, including my dear Holly, will not have been in vain and will continue to not be in vain.

THANK YOU to the following primary sponsors: Senator John Bennett, Senator Joan Quigley, Senator Robert Singer, and Senator Joseph Azzolina (deceased) and to the former Governor James McGreevey!!

The bill, P.L. 2003, c257, was unanimously released from both the Senate and Assembly Health Committees. It passed the Senate 40-0 on May 29, 2003 and it passed the Assembly 74-0 on January 12, 2004.

Thank you to the following New Jersey State Legislators who signed on as our co-sponsors:

Andrew R. Ciesla
Joseph M. Kyrillos
Joseph A. Palaia
Joseph F. Vitale
Michael J. Arnone
Christopher Bateman
Patrick J. Diegnan
Gary L. Guear
John S. Wisniewski
Jeff Van Drew
Peter C. Eagler
Linda Stender
Clare M. Farragher
Joseph V. Egan
Gordon M. Johnson
Upendra J. Chivukula
Nilsa Cruz-Perez
John F. McKeon
Linda R. Greenstein
Dr. Eric Munoz

Thank you to all of you who wrote letters, made phone calls, and/ or said prayers. Everyone’s contribution to our endeavor was instrumental in helping pass Holly’s Law.

If you have comments or questions please feel free to contact me by e-mail. I would love to hear from the parents that utilize the antibody blood titer test. I would be interested to know if the child’s physician provided the information and the comments made by the physician.

God Bless.
Robin Stavola

info@hopefromholly.com

God’s presence keeping me strong

hopefromholly — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 11:27:05 +0000

First of all I would like to thank God for his strength, grace, courage and wisdom. It has been 10 years since my daughter’s death and looking back now I truly do not know how I had the physical and emotional capacity to get through this process. I wanted to update Holly’s website in the 10th year since her death, because I feel it is necessary to make God’s presence more prevalent in this website as He has been in my life. It has been an interesting journey and I would like to share what has helped me get through these years and what is still helping me today. It has been God, family, and friends, but when family and friends aren’t around, it is God who is faithfully with you always, in your heart, mind and soul.

Holly’s Story

hopefromholly — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 23:08:21 +0000

Holly Marie Stavola
January 18, 1995 – February 4, 2000

Holly was our second child born on January 18, 1995. She was always a sweet and happy child. She had no serious medical illnesses, no hospitalizations, no surgeries, and no injuries (not even minor) prior to February 1, 2000. She gave us joy every day and she was our precious little angel. Holly was always so loving. Holly did nice things for her brother Tommy, Mommy and Daddy and anyone who asked her for something. She did it with a smile on her face and expecting nothing in return. Holly only wanted everyone to be happy.

You wouldn’t think a 4 year old just turning 5 would know the true meaning of empathy, but she knew it to the highest degree. Holly made sure she included everyone in her prayers and she would remember who was not feeling well and what ailed them without Mom or Dad’s help. She always seemed to want to pray for others, and never herself. When asked why, she would say she didn’t need prayers. Holly always asked Mommy how her back felt and prayed for Daddy’s headaches, but she was most concerned about her brother Tommy. One of Holly’s priorities in life was to make her brother Tommy proud of her. She liked to see him happy. Holly was the one that actually inspired Tommy to start taking taekwondo. They went to classes together. She would run in his room in the morning as soon as she knew he was up. She couldn’t wait until he was out of school so they could play together. She wanted to be like her big brother. That’s why all of Tommy’s favorite things, playing Sonic on the computer, battling Pokemon, practicing karate or drawing were Holly’s favorite things too.

Tommy and I spent alot of time teaching Holly. She was very smart for her age, she had just learned to read. She had a lot of potential because she was a quick learner and loved to learn. She loved books so much, she looked forward to her Daddy reading to her every night. The last story that was read to Holly was Thumbelina. She loved it so much. Right after hearing it she came to tell me the whole story in her own words.

Holly didn’t even have to be told to be polite, she was considerate on her own. Holly never went to bed without saying goodnight and I love you to all of us. Every morning as Daddy left to take Tommy to school she would say “Have a nice day”, and “I love you” to them.

Holly unexpectedly and sadly died February 4, 2000. She had endured more than she should have. She became ill 6 days after receiving her vaccinations. We wish we would have known about the option of the antibody blood titer test. Read about the option in the law. Go to www.njleg.state.nj.us/

Read more about what happened to Holly and the reason for Holly’s Law here:
Our Purpose

Hope From Holly

hopefromholly — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 22:59:33 +0000

Brunch with Santa - Holly's Last Christmas

“A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam, and for a brief moment it’s glory and beauty belong to our world, but then it flies on again. And though we wish it could have stayed, we feel so lucky to have seen it.”

We feel blessed to have had Holly in our world, but her life was too short, just like a butterfly. She belonged to us for 5 years, but on February 4, 2000 she was taken up to heaven to be with God. We have our faith that comforts us with the knowledge of heaven and eternal life, but we will always be saddened that she never got to grow up and fulfill her dreams and wishes. We are also comforted by many people that have helped us get through this tragedy.