Richmond, Virginia –
Governor Abigail D. Spanberger has officially recognized May 17, 2026, as “Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) Awareness Day” in Virginia. Additionally, Governor Spanberger has proclaimed May 31, 2026, as NEC Remembrance Day.
Necrotizing enterocolitis, also known as NEC, is the most common cause of death in hospitalized premature infants after two weeks of age. NEC causes a severe inflammatory process that can lead to intestinal tissue damage and death, and once NEC is diagnosed, many babies only live for a few hours or days.
Thousands of babies develop NEC each year, and hundreds of babies die from this complex intestinal disease. Babies born prematurely or with a medical condition, like a congenital heart defect, are most at risk of NEC, and babies who survive NEC often have lifelong neurological and nutritional complications.
The risk of NEC cannot be fully eliminated, and there are not yet sure ways to stop or cure NEC. There is an urgent need to increase research, education, and advocacy surrounding NEC.
Jocelyn Duvall and Lori Layne led the initiative to introduce NEC Awareness Day and NEC Remembrance Day to the state in honor of their daughters, Jewelz and Calvary.
Jewelz was born prematurely at 25 weeks gestation. Jewelz thrived in the NICU for nearly two months, but then everything changed when she became very sick very fast at 33 weeks gestation. Jewelz was diagnosed with NEC. Devastatingly, it progressed so aggressively and quickly that nothing could be done. Jewelz tragically passed away from NEC shortly after her diagnosis.
Calvary was born prematurely at 27 weeks gestation after a high-risk triplet pregnancy and emergency delivery. Calvary was initially doing well in the NICU until she suddenly developed NEC and got very sick very fast. Calvary tragically passed away from NEC at 8 days old.
Jocelyn and Lori are transforming their pain into power by advocating for a world without this devastating disease.
Virginia joins Tennessee, South Carolina, Texas, California, Utah, Colorado, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Georgia, and Louisiana in recognizing NEC Awareness Day. The NEC Awareness Day Resolution has also been introduced in the US House by US Representatives Mike Thompson, Kevin Kiley, and Carol Miller.
Join Jocelyn, Lori, the state of Virginia, and the NEC Society by raising NEC awareness in honor of babies like Jewelz and Calvary at NECsociety.org
The NEC Society is the world’s leading nonprofit dedicated to understanding and preventing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). We are led by patient-families, clinicians, and researchers who share our vision: to build a world without NEC through research, education, and advocacy so that babies and families never have to experience the devastation of NEC.
