Representative Don Humason



BABY HUMMY Westfield News column By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. Saturday, August 20, 2011 My wife Janice and I are pleased to announce to the readers of my Westfield News column that we are now the proud parents of a happy, healthy baby boy. His name is Quinn Geordon Humason. Quinn is a name of Irish and Gaelic origin and means wise counsel. Quinn's middle name is a combination of Jan's dad's name, George, and my father's name, Don. He weighed 7 lbs. 15 oz. and was 21.5 inches long at birth. Current parents will understand and forgive me this time to recount the story of my baby's arrival. Non-parents and others may not care and may not understand, so my apologies in advance. As a former non-parent, I never truly understood myself. But as a new father to a beautiful infant I'm starting to get it now. Last week, on Thursday evening, as usual, I wrote my column called Summer Survey. By the way, thank you to all of you who have already sent your survey answers in to my office. My Legislative Aide, Maura Cassin, has already begun to record the results so I may publish them in a future column. If you haven't sent yours in there's still time to do so. I also intend to put the column on my webpage, www.DonHumason.org, as I do with all my columns and press releases. So if you want to go there and email your questionnaire to me, that is fine as well. Last Friday morning I recorded the newest installment of my cable show "From the State House to Your House" at the television studio at Westfield State University. My guest was Dr. Suzanne Scallion, Westfield Public School's newest Superintendent of Schools. That show will air on the Westfield Community Programming Channel 15 on Sundays at 4:30 PM, Wednesdays at 8:30 PM, and Thursdays at 10:30 AM and 10:30 PM. Incidentally, my show airs right after Mayor Dan Knapik's cable show so it's possible to get a good, solid hour of programming on the events and people of Westfield and her local and state government. After the show taping was complete, I checked my cell phone and had a message from my wife who had gone for a check up on our unborn baby. After an ultrasound, the doctor told her he had some concerns and wanted to admit her to Baystate Medical Center so the baby could be monitored. We were surprised because our baby's due date was not supposed to have been until this Thursday, August 18, and we had even expected him to arrive late as so many first children do. I grabbed a few things from our home then drove to meet Jan at the hospital. She was fine and said she felt well and had even asked her doctor if she could go back to work or go home on bed rest instead of remaining in the Wesson Labor and Delivery unit. Our doctor insisted she remain where they would be able to keep an eye on her and monitor our unborn son for signs of distress. He indicated it was likely they would try to induce our child. Fortunately, the fetal heart monitors never showed any signs of distress and everyone from the nurses and staff kept repeating that our baby looked very healthy and happy. Without violating HIPPA and my wife's privacy, suffice it to say we stayed at Baystate from Friday to Monday when she was finally able to deliver our son around 6 PM. My mother in law and I assisted in the delivery and I was very happy to be the one to cut my son's umbilical cord. Two days later we were discharged and back at home in Westfield with a three day old baby boy. I have never stayed in a hospital for more than a day or two, never mind six days. Even though I was not technically the patient, I stayed by my wife's side almost continually. Janice has a Master's Degree in health policy and I have worked in the Legislature and for the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. We have to say that it was an awesome and eye-opening experience to witness the inner workings of the health care system. The doctors, nurses, techs, and other staff were, without exception, simply fantastic. They were attentive, knowledgeable, compassionate, accommodating, informative, engaged, and thoroughly caring. I have witnessed this at Noble Hospital before, but have never personally experienced it for such a long stretch. As Westfield's State Representative, I have worked hard to be a strong voice for my constituents and a vocal advocate of my district and all of Western Massachusetts at the State House in Boston. Now, as a father, I have a new reason to fight for us in the House Chamber. My baby son will be an inspiration to me, a constant reminder that the role of an elected representative in government should be to serve those in the present with an eye constantly looking toward future generations. I am delighted to join the ranks of parenthood and honored to have a position where I can make a difference, not just for my son, but for all the sons and daughters of Massachusetts. I can't wait for the chance to introduce Quinn to all of you. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Have a great week. * * * Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of the Westfield Evening News. Representative Don Humason and his Legislative Aide Maura Cassin may be reached at their Westfield District Office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, (413) 568-1366. Representative Don Humason may be reached at his Boston office, State House Room 542, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2803. Email address: Donald.Humason@MAHouse.gov Website: www.DonHumason.org
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BABY HUMMY

Westfield News column
By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.
Saturday, August 20, 2011

My wife Janice and I are pleased to announce to the readers of my Westfield News column that we are now the proud parents of a happy, healthy baby boy. His name is Quinn Geordon Humason.

Quinn is a name of Irish and Gaelic origin and means wise counsel. Quinn's middle name is a combination of Jan's dad's name, George, and my father's name, Don. He weighed 7 lbs. 15 oz. and was 21.5 inches long at birth.

Current parents will understand and forgive me this time to recount the story of my baby's arrival. Non-parents and others may not care and may not understand, so my apologies in advance. As a former non-parent, I never truly understood myself. But as a new father to a beautiful infant I'm starting to get it now.

Last week, on Thursday evening, as usual, I wrote my column called Summer Survey. By the way, thank you to all of you who have already sent your survey answers in to my office. My Legislative Aide, Maura Cassin, has already begun to record the results so I may publish them in a future column. If you haven't sent yours in there's still time to do so.

I also intend to put the column on my webpage, www.DonHumason.org, as I do with all my columns and press releases. So if you want to go there and email your questionnaire to me, that is fine as well.

Last Friday morning I recorded the newest installment of my cable show "From the State House to Your House" at the television studio at Westfield State University. My guest was Dr. Suzanne Scallion, Westfield Public School's newest Superintendent of Schools. That show will air on the Westfield Community Programming Channel 15 on Sundays at 4:30 PM, Wednesdays at 8:30 PM, and Thursdays at 10:30 AM and 10:30 PM.

Incidentally, my show airs right after Mayor Dan Knapik's cable show so it's possible to get a good, solid hour of programming on the events and people of Westfield and her local and state government.

After the show taping was complete, I checked my cell phone and had a message from my wife who had gone for a check up on our unborn baby. After an ultrasound, the doctor told her he had some concerns and wanted to admit her to Baystate Medical Center so the baby could be monitored.

We were surprised because our baby's due date was not supposed to have been until this Thursday, August 18, and we had even expected him to arrive late as so many first children do. I grabbed a few things from our home then drove to meet Jan at the hospital. She was fine and said she felt well and had even asked her doctor if she could go back to work or go home on bed rest instead of remaining in the Wesson Labor and Delivery unit.

Our doctor insisted she remain where they would be able to keep an eye on her and monitor our unborn son for signs of distress. He indicated it was likely they would try to induce our child. Fortunately, the fetal heart monitors never showed any signs of distress and everyone from the nurses and staff kept repeating that our baby looked very healthy and happy.

Without violating HIPPA and my wife's privacy, suffice it to say we stayed at Baystate from Friday to Monday when she was finally able to deliver our son around 6 PM. My mother in law and I assisted in the delivery and I was very happy to be the one to cut my son's umbilical cord. Two days later we were discharged and back at home in Westfield with a three day old baby boy.

I have never stayed in a hospital for more than a day or two, never mind six days. Even though I was not technically the patient, I stayed by my wife's side almost continually. Janice has a Master's Degree in health policy and I have worked in the Legislature and for the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. We have to say that it was an awesome and eye-opening experience to witness the inner workings of the health care system.

The doctors, nurses, techs, and other staff were, without exception, simply fantastic. They were attentive, knowledgeable, compassionate, accommodating, informative, engaged, and thoroughly caring. I have witnessed this at Noble Hospital before, but have never personally experienced it for such a long stretch.

As Westfield's State Representative, I have worked hard to be a strong voice for my constituents and a vocal advocate of my district and all of Western Massachusetts at the State House in Boston. Now, as a father, I have a new reason to fight for us in the House Chamber. My baby son will be an inspiration to me, a constant reminder that the role of an elected representative in government should be to serve those in the present with an eye constantly looking toward future generations.

I am delighted to join the ranks of parenthood and honored to have a position where I can make a difference, not just for my son, but for all the sons and daughters of Massachusetts. I can't wait for the chance to introduce Quinn to all of you. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Have a great week.

* * *

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of the Westfield Evening News. Representative Don Humason and his Legislative Aide Maura Cassin may be reached at their Westfield District Office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, (413) 568-1366. Representative Don Humason may be reached at his Boston office, State House Room 542, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2803. Email address: Donald.Humason@MAHouse.gov Website: www.DonHumason.org

This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group