– Photo by John Meiu
The Second Annual Franny Strong Golf Outing was held last month at the Edgewood Country Club in Commence Township. About 175 people attended and the outing netted approximately $60,000 for the foundation. Pictured are (left to right) Bob Kotz of Kotz, Sangster, Wysocki PC; Veronica McNally of Valentine & Associates PC; and Sean McNally and Greg Wysocki of Kotz, Sangster, Wysocki PC.
By Steve Thorpe
Legal News
As attorneys, Veronica and Sean McNally are professional advocates, but there is one issue for which they advocate that is particularly dear to their hearts.
The Franny Strong Foundation was created in 2012 to honor their daughter Francesca Marie McNally, who died from pertussis at 12 weeks of age. Her symptoms began with a mild cough, but she died just nine days after first showing those symptoms.
The stated mission of the group is to promote pertussis awareness and prevention through ongoing research and education for the public and health care professionals.
“We suffered a terrible tragedy,” Veronica says. “But to be able to prevent other people from going through what we went through … that’s what we want.”
Sean says they saw the emotional force of the experience as a motivator to try and make a difference.
“We’re result driven people and we decided not to languish in the tragedy, but to try to educate others, including in the medical community, and hopefully make a positive impact.”
Veronica McNally is an associate at Valentine & Associates PC and her practice areas include civil litigation including arbitration, both domestic and international, manufacturer’s representative law and insurance law.
Sean McNally is a member of Kotz, Sangster, Wysocki PC’s construction practice group and also part of their litigation practice group.
The McNallys believe that relatively simple measures can protect a child from pertussis.
“The protection is threefold,” Veronica says. “The first step should be maternal vaccination. The second would be to surround the infant with what is called ‘the circle of protection’ or ‘cocooning,’ which is people who are vaccinated. The third is to be vigilant. If your child does develop a cough, don’t accept the diagnosis that ‘it’s okay, it’s normal.’ Seek the best medical treatment.”
Education is an important part of that strategy. Pertussis is a disease that can be difficult to identify.
“It’s very deceptive and often misdiagnosed or under diagnosed,” Veronica says. “Pertussis appears like a simple common cold, except the cough worsens into prolonged coughing fits that last anywhere from 30 seconds to two minutes. The duration of the ailment can be 100 days. In fact that’s what the Chinese called the disease — the 100-day cough.”
They also strongly encourage people to get vaccinated against pertussis (Tdap for adults and adolescents, DTaP for infants and children).
“The CDC came out in February with their published reports recommending that women receive a dose of Tdap during pregnancy, irrespective of Tdap history,” says Veronica. “The reason is to provide immunity for the infant before the infant is able to begin its own vaccination series.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pertussis, a respiratory illness commonly known as whooping cough, is a very contagious disease caused by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. These bacteria attach to the tiny, hair-like extensions that line the upper respiratory system. The bacteria release toxins, which cause damage, inflammation and swelling.
The CDC guidelines call for children to get vaccinated against pertussis in five doses, starting at 2 months and ending between the ages of 4 and 6. A booster shot is recommended around age 11 or 12. A pertussis booster vaccine is recommended every 10 years for adults, particularly for anyone who comes in contact with infants.
During 2012, 48,277 cases of pertussis were reported to CDC. The incidence rate of pertussis among infants exceeds that of all other age groups.
Also during 2012, increased pertussis cases or outbreaks were reported in a majority of states. Forty-nine states and Washington, D.C., reported increases in disease in 2012 compared with 2011.
“One of the reasons for the resurgence is waning immunity,” Veronica says. “Even if you were vaccinated as a child or had the disease, your immunity eventually wears off in anywhere from four to 20 years. You need to be revaccinated.”
The McNallys are also concerned by what they see as the negative influence of the anti-vaccine movement.
“The largest source of misperception is the anti-vaccine movement,” Sean says. “There are people who are otherwise educated and sophisticated who, with the best intentions, go out on the Internet seeking information on the subject. But too often they’re not qualified to properly evaluate the information. So they see things from the anti-vaccine movement, none of it supported by science. Vaccines today are one of the most effective means we have to tackle many of the most aggressive diseases, including pertussis. Not vaccinating is extremely dangerous.”
The McNallys hope that the organization will continue to grow and that the scope of its mission may expand.
“In 10 years we would like the organization to be at the forefront of education on pertussis for both health care professionals and the public,” says Veronica.
And it’s possible that the group will extend its efforts into the area of other childhood diseases.
“The core objectives of the foundation are advocacy and education,” Sean says. “And possibly, on the horizon, with other vaccine preventable diseases. This year’s a pretty critical one for the foundation. We have several people who are working on a volunteer basis, but in the next few years we need to formalize the structure with a permanent director and staff. Then we can advance and grow the organization. We’ve developed a regional presence and now we’re beginning to develop a national presence through CDC and other organizations.”
“Losing a child is indescribable,” Veronica says. “Pretty much immediately, driving to the funeral home to make arrangements, we decided that we were going to act and create the foundation.”
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