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Nebraska governor signs bill recognizing babies lost at 20 weeks or less

Posted at 4:55 PM, Apr 18, 2018
and last updated 2018-04-19 02:54:21-04

An Omaha family, along with many others, are celebrating Wednesday, after Gov. Pete Ricketts signed a bill into law that honors the littlest lives.

Jennifer and Andy Sommers have been pushing for recognition for babies who have passed at 20 gestation or less. The Sommers say LB 1040 honors the babies and the families who have experienced loss.

"When it's under 20 weeks or in the first trimester, it often times feels really invalidated and very lonely and isolating," Jennifer Sommers said. 

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The family has lost three babies of their own. Andy Sommers says the goal is to help families heal and, for their own family, find peace in helping others.

"Throughout this journey, it's been amazing to see not just moms coming together but dads coming together, as well," he said.