NEC Awareness Day Spotlights Efforts to End Deadly Disease

May 17, 2020

Necrotizing enterocolitis, or NEC, is a severe disease affecting premature and medically fragile infants which causes an inflammatory process that can lead to intestinal tissue damage and death. A NEC diagnosis is devastating, and can often turn fatal.

Jennifer Canvasser is all too familiar with the disease. Her son Micah lost his battle with NEC when he was just 11 months old. After her loss, Jennifer saw a need for a group dedicated to fighting this disease and protecting the babies at risk. In order to promote research, advocacy and support for those affected by NEC, she founded the NEC Society.

The NEC Society is actively working with parents, clinicians and researchers to bring awareness and an eventual end to this life-threatening complication. The organization focuses on bringing families affected by NEC together with clinicians and researchers.

Human milk is considered a life-saving intervention for fragile babies at risk for NEC. 

NEC Awareness Day on May 17 helps draw attention to NEC education and advocacy, helping the public understand the seriousness and implications for vulnerable infants.