MAKING NOISE

We made some noise this morning on this day that is designated as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day. At the 9th minute of the 9th hour of the 9th month people around the world were ringing bells to bring awareness to the fact that a woman must not drink alcohol during her 9 months of pregnancy. Fetal alcohol disorders are the leading cause of mental retardation in this country, cannot be curred, and are 100% preventable! How can we get this word out to everyone in this country? We need to make a lot of noise!

As my daughter, Kari, who works for MOFAS (Minnesota Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome) stated in her speech this morning at the bell ringing event: "We don't need to wait for a vaccine or for an identifiable genetic marker to stop FASD in it's tracks. We don't need stem cell research to find the answers we seek. We just need to make a little noise."

Please join me in making some noise. Learn all you can about FASD. Find out what you can do to help educate everyone about the dangers of drinking alcohol during pregnancy. And, please, contact your Congressmen and Representatives and urge them to support bills S1722 in Congress and HR4212 in the house. Tell them that they MUST support these programs that will provide education, prevention, treatment and support services. Please make a little noise. NO, instead, make a lot of noise!