A Joelle Girone Update

Joelle Girone is back to work after taking a break from TV news after losing her baby at 23 weeks in February. The former Channel 12 and 5 reporter now is with the March of Dimes, an agency which helped her through her troubled times. She gave me permission to post her email, and invite her fans to email her at work:

Hi Kiese,

This is Joelle Girone, formerly of Local 12 and News 5. I just wanted to say "Hello," and let you know that I've landed on my feet after a very difficult time for my family. As you know, my husband and I lost our first child at 23-weeks into my pregnancy in February. (What a shock for us all! I've never had health problems and know of no one in my family whose ever had pregnancy problems!) I recently learned from doctors that I have an inherited thrombophilia (my blood clots too easily) which can lead to small clots forming in the placenta and if bleeding continues can lead to premature rupture of the amniotic sac and pre-term birth. Believe me...no one, including myself, expected anything like this to happen.

Since then I have made a lot of changes in my life, and probably one of the most important is a switch in my professional career. I am now the Communications Coordinator for the March of Dimes in Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky. The March of Dimes website was my lifeline when things were falling apart and I’m grateful to work for the one organization whose goal is to prevent premature birth and save babies lives.

I'd be honored if you update folks on my situation. I will also offer to you the fact that a simple blood test could have made the difference in my case... yet, doctors won’t test women for the inherited thrombophilias until you lose 2 or 3 first trimester pregnancies, or 1 pregnancy in the second or third trimester. When I get pregnant the next go around I will be on baby aspirin, a prenatal vitamin, a high dose folic acid supplement, and 2 shots of heparin (a blood thinner) each day. This situation is staggeringly common... and yet, we don’t act in a preventative manner because of cost. I would argue the cost, when we don't test, is already too high.

I love your blog and love keeping up with the interesting world that is "broadcasting." Thanks for letting everyone know what was going on with me... and a special thank you to those who cared enough to ask. I’ll be in touch...!! :)

My work phone at the March of Dimes is (513) 769-3588 ext. 34.
email: jgironedrayton@marchofdimes.com

Joelle Girone