Baby who inspired new Pa. screening law dies

A Bucks County baby who this year became the namesake for a state law requiring hospitals to test newborns for certain rare disorders, died Sunday, Dec. 28.

Hannah Ginion would have turned 2 on Jan. 15. She suffered from Krabbe disease, an inherited condition that destroys nerve cells.

"Hannah was called home to be with the angels this morning," said a post on a Facebook page that had provided updates about her condition. "She went peacefully."

Hannah was diagnosed with Krabbe disease when she was 5 months old - too late for a cord blood transplant that could have stopped or slowed its progression.

Gov. Corbett signed "Hannah's Law" in her honor in October. It requires hospitals to add six lysosomal-storage disorders to the list of conditions for which they screen newborns: Globoid cell leukodystrophy (Krabbe disease), Fabry, Pompe, Niemann-Pick, Gaucher, and Hurler syndrome.

The law took effect this month.

On Sunday, Corbett thanked Hannah's parents, Vicki Pizzullo and Justin Ginion of Bristol Township, for their commitment in pushing for Hannah's Law.

"Hannah's impact will be felt in immeasurable ways," Corbett said in a statement. "Hannah will be remembered for giving other families a reason to hope and a chance for their children's futures."

On Saturday, the Facebook page where Pizzullo has posted updates about her daughter said, "Hannah has been doing OK." The post included a photo of the baby "listening to Elmo" through small, fuzzy pink headphones.

"Please continue to pray for Hannah," the page said. "She still continues to be such a fighter."

Hours later, another Facebook post announced Hannah's death.

A candlelight vigil was planned for Sunday night outside John Fitch Elementary School in Levittown.

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@Lmccrystal