4 Questions with Bruce Bush





This post is part of a series where we pose questions on issues related to maternal and infant care for vulnerable populations to health professionals, community advocates, mothers, JBLF volunteers and other important voices. 

Bruce Bush is Jenn’s dad and is on the Board of Directors. He’s also an amazing supporter of the Foundation all year round.



1.If you could tell us one thing, what would it be?

To love one another…..thanks to all who knew Jennifer and continue to be genuine friends.   

2. What is your favorite memory of Jenn?

A life well lived. Jennifer’s favorite saying —- DIFFERENT – YET THE SAME. She was very successful in everything she did.

A phrase from one of her work associate’s letter, upon her passing, sums up what many individuals thought about her…..”she left a positive mark on dozens of people with whom she had only passing interactions….she was the kind of person whose kindness in small doses meant a lot, for many.”

3. What has been your best JB-LF moment?

The first 5k Race and Family Day. A beautiful tribute from Neal and the news media plus the Arlington community. Cooper won the first race in his age group.

4.  What are people surprised to find out about you?

That I was a professional musician…….played the drums in combos and large dance bands. 

Patient Profile: Sami

This post is part of a series where we highlight the lives of the moms we serve. Specifically we want to bring a face to the complex issues we have begun addressing in this blog – such as care in the first trimester.

All stories are compilations from conversations with actual patients and additional research. To protect identities, we have used stock photos.
By Lindsey Hill, Intern

Medicaid benefits end 2 months after delivery – leaving new mothers without health insurance during a very risky postpartum period. Meet Sami, a young African American mother, who began experiencing extreme fatigue and swelling of her ankles towards the end of her pregnancy. These symptoms can be very normal toward the end and were quickly forgotten after the uneventful delivery of her baby.

Yet a few months later, Sami went to the hospital multiple times for extreme shortness of breath. The doctors she saw mistakenly attributed the cause as her history of asthma and sent her home. In addition, Sami missed a postpartum doctor visit due to lack of transportation. It wasn’t until a third hospital visit that she was diagnosed with heart failure (postpartum cardiomyopathy). Cardiomyopathy is a form of heart failure that can be fatal and is the leading cause of maternal deaths during the period from 1 week to 1 year after delivery. With her diagnosis, Sami needed frequent medical visits, had a weakened heart muscle, and a prolonged recovery.

This heart failure is difficult to detect because its symptoms can mimic those of a third trimester pregnancy, such as Sami’s fatigue and swollen ankles. Sami’s diagnosis could have been prevented if she had been educated about postpartum health risks, if her hospital providers had asked if she recently gave birth, or attending her postpartum visit. These would have likely resulted in an earlier cardiology consultation, and with more personalized care, the risk to Sami’s health would have been minimized. 

Many pregnancy-related health complications, and even death, come from those who lose coverage or access to care after giving birth. This lack of access only magnifies the issues new mothers face – highlighting the importance of extending Medicaid coverage. Heart disease accounts for 1 in 4 maternal deaths and black women have a higher risk of heart-related maternal deaths. Developing nations like Southern Asia have achieved overall reduction in maternal mortality rates, yet the United States is the only developed country where the maternal mortality rate has been increasing since 1987.

2 out of every 5 U.S. births are through Medicaid and these poor outcomes many women and infants face could be addressed through expansion of Medicaid policy to extend the coverage period. State-led and federal initiatives can improve access to care and the quality of services pregnant women covered under Medicaid receive.

Even though she was left without health insurance after her Medicaid benefits ended, Sami was fortunate to catch her postpartum heart failure when she did. Sami and her baby are doing well today.

Expanding Access to Care


November 2021

A continuation of our series highlighting the issues affecting the low-income moms gaining access to quality health care.

By Lindsey Hill, Intern


Medicaid provides health coverage to 1 in 5 Americans, with many low-income pregnant women relying on the program to aid with delivery expenses. Expectant mothers can qualify for coverage in a couple ways – as a previous recipient of Medicaid services, meeting qualifications at the beginning of pregnancy, or through emergency coverage from delivery up to eight weeks postpartum. Due to life circumstances, many of the women we serve don’t qualify until emergency coverage sets in at delivery.  

For all moms using Medicaid, the ability to access postpartum care used to last for only 60 days postpartum – far to short to benefit the health of mom and baby. However, progress is being made. In 2020, the United States House of Representatives passed legislation allowing states to extend Medicaid coverage for new mothers from 60 days up to a full year postpartum. Why is this extension of Medicaid coverage for new mothers so important?

Extending Medicaid coverage will provide insurance for women at a medically vulnerable time in their lives while they are pregnant and after giving birth. Low-income women are disproportionately likely to face life-threatening conditions between 8 weeks and 1 year following their deliveries. This postpartum year is critical for women and extending Medicaid coverage could mean the difference between life and death for many new mothers.

This expansion is significant for low-income women by increasing their access to pre- and post- partum care. Virginia Governor, Ralph Northam, has expanded the Commonwealth’s Medicaid program, giving hundreds of thousands of Virginians access to medical care and the opportunity to lead healthier lives. Extending coverage for low-income pregnant women and new mothers will ensure continuous health coverage during some of the most important times of their lives. The previous coverage of 60-days postpartum was simply not enough because continuous health coverage is crucial for keeping women healthy during and after pregnancy. With these new opportunities for expectant and new mothers, we should hope to see an increase in access to quality maternal health care coverage. 

Patient Profile: Cora


This post is part of a series where we highlight the lives of the moms we serve. Specifically we want to bring a face to the complex issues we have begun addressing in this blog – such as Medicare.

All stories are compilations from conversations with actual patients and additional research. To protect identities, we have used stock photos.

By Lindsey Hill, Intern



In a previous profile, we described how the Jennifer Bush-Lawson Foundation helped an Arlington mom named Julie. Here is a story of how JB-LF and its contributors provided assistance to another mom during her pregnancy. After delivering her firstborn, Cora had a life-threatening blood clot – putting her in high risk during subsequent pregnancies. So when Cora became pregnant with her second child she was not only concerned for her baby, Cora was also anxious about her own health and being on medications to prevent blood clots.

With this high risk pregnancy, Cora needed regular check-ins with her physician to monitor her condition and the medications she would be on. On top of it all, going to routine doctor appointments seemed virtually impossible under the threat of firing due to missing work. How could Cora choose between her health and making money to support her family’s needs for basic food and shelter? Cora’s situation was further complicated by a lack of health insurance.

The telemedicine initiative funded by JBLF made it possible for Cora to consult with her physician from work. Now, she would not have to sacrifice her health or her job because JB-LF’s program could offer Cora weekly telemedicine visits. Cora could step into a closet at her job and connect with her doctors using her phone. This allowed Cora to have her questions and concerns answered on the spot.

With the help of the Jennifer Bush-Lawson Foundation and its contributors, Cora was able to stay in contact with her health care providers while continuing to provide for her family. JBLF’s telemedicine pilot program was revolutionary for Cora’s pregnancy. Thanks to the program, JB-LF, and all who contribute to the foundation, Cora and her baby are doing well today. 

Jennifer Bush-Lawson Foundation Grant Sees Results (Get Up DC)

 

August 13, 2020 by Get Up DC

WASHINGTON (WUSA9) — Jennifer Bush-Lawson was a woman who made it her mission to help mothers with complicated pregnancies after battling issues during her pregnancies. Sadly, the wife and mother of three’s work was cut short in 2014 — but her mission lives on. The Jennifer Bush-Lawson Foundation funded grant for a telemedicine program at Virginia Hospital Center has seen amazing results.

Jennifer Bush-Lawson Foundation Delivers 2500+ Meals (Good Morning Washington)

 

July 16, 2020 by Good Morning Washington

WASHINGTON (ABC7) — Jennifer Bush-Lawson was a woman who made it her mission to help mothers with complicated pregnancies after battling issues during her pregnancies. Sadly, the wife and mother of three’s work was cut short in 2014 — but her mission lives on. The Jennifer Bush-Lawson Foundation has teamed up with Two Plates to provide meals to financially vulnerable families with newborns.

Full article: https://wjla.com/news/local/2-dmv-organizations-team-up-to-cook-deliver-over-2500-meals-to-expecting-and-new-moms 

Jennifer Bush-Lawson Foundation 5K and Family Fun Day returns to Arlington (Good Morning Washington)

November 12, 2019 by Good Morning Washington

WASHINGTON (ABC7) — Jennifer Bush-Lawson was a woman who made it her mission to help mothers with complicated pregnancies after battling issues during her pregnancies. Sadly, the wife and mother of three’s work was cut short in 2014 — but her mission lives on. Saturday is the 5th annual Jennifer Bush-Lawson Foundation 5K and Family Fun Day in Arlington. Neal Lawson and Jennifer Myers shared details on the event.

Full video: https://wjla.com/features/good-morning-washington/jennifer-bush-lawson-foundation-5k-and-family-fun-day-returns-to-arlington

17 Things To Do In November (Arlington Magazine)

October 28, 2019 by Eliza Berkon

Jennifer Bush-Lawson 5K & Family Fun Day

When: Nov. 23, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Where: Knights of Columbus, 5115 Little Falls Road, Arlington

This fifth annual fundraiser includes a certified 5K course (open to adults and youth) and kids’ fun run, plus moon bounces, laser tag, a rock-climbing wall, balloon animals, face painting and more. Proceeds support pediatric and maternal health care services for economically vulnerable women and their infants. $22.50-$45.

Full story: https://www.arlingtonmagazine.com/17-things-to-do-in-november/3/

Race, Bias, and Equity in Prenatal Care: No Pregnant Woman is the Same

Race, Bias, and Equity in Prenatal Care: No Pregnant Woman is the Same
June 26, 2019
By Amanda King, Wilson Center

It’s disturbing to see the data going in the wrong direction and it means we have to go beyond what we’ve been doing, said Terri D. Wright, Vice President of Programs and Community at the Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation at a recent event on equitable prenatal care in the United States hosted by The Jennifer Bush-Lawson Foundation and the American Medical Association at Duke University in DC. “We can’t do the same things the same way and expect a different outcome,” she said. “We’ve got to do something different.” …

Read the full post here: https://www.newsecuritybeat.org/2019/06/race-bias-equity-prenatal-care-pregnant-woman/