Latest news with #MollyMcGovern
CBS News
22-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Rep. Jim McGovern pleads for NIH funding in budget bill after daughter dies of cancer: "This is personal"
Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts made an emotional plea for Congress to restore grant funding for researchers at the National Institutes of Health as lawmakers debated President Trump's budget bill Wednesday night. McGovern's daughter Molly died unexpectedly from complications of a rare cancer last month while on a trip to Italy. She was 23 years old. "This is personal to me," the Worcester Democrat told the Rules Committee. "Five years ago, my daughter Molly was diagnosed with a rare cancer and there was no surefire treatment, but she was accepted into an NIH clinical trial and she received excellent care." Trump ripped NIH funding away from scientists already working on cures for cancer, Alzheimer's, and more. For me, this is personal. — Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) May 22, 2025 McGovern said the issue is "life or death" for people in ongoing clinical trials like his daughter Molly was. "We are so devastated by her loss," he said. "But we are so grateful that we got to spend more time with her because of the NIH clinical trial that she was in. A clinical trial made possible because for decades, Congress has provided funding to the NIH in a bipartisan way." Scientists at the NIH told "60 Minutes" last month that they feared NIH cuts could impact the health of Americans for generations. Some of the top scientists at the NIH have been laid off. "How can anyone justify firing NIH doctors and scientists?" McGovern said. "How can they look our family and other families in the eye and justify these cynical, cruel NIH cuts?" It was reported this week that former President Biden's "Cancer Moonshot" was hit by Trump administration cuts to research at Harvard University and Columbia University. Cancer scientists at Harvard said they've seen NIH funding disappear recently because of the funding freeze.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Congressman Jim McGovern's Daughter 'Died Suddenly' at 23
Molly McGovern, the 23-year-old daughter of Massachusetts Congressman Jim McGovern, died suddenly on April 23 while vacationing with friends in Assisi, Italy. According to The Boston Globe, Molly had been dining with friends when she became nauseous, and within minutes, she was gone. Her death came as a devastating shock to family, friends, and those who knew her as a bright, passionate student with a global vision. A political science and international affairs student at Northeastern University, Molly had already left a mark on Capitol Hill and beyond. Molly was remembered during her May 3 funeral at St. Bernard's Church in Worcester, Massachusetts, not just as a congressman's daughter, but as a compassionate and curious young woman who lived fully despite being diagnosed with a rare cancer at 18. 'She had a great 23 years, but who would have thought the last five years would be the best,' her mother, Lisa McGovern, said in her emotional eulogy. 'There were little miracles everywhere.' Molly's life was filled with travel and meaningful connections. She had explored far-flung places like Tasmania and Rome, and she had formed bonds with political figures including Nancy Pelosi and her family. On the day of her death, Molly had been texting with Pelosi, discussing the former speaker's upcoming trip to Italy for Pope Francis's funeral. As a child, Molly once told a priest she wanted to become a cardinal. She immediately questioned why women couldn't become cardinals. That sharp mix of ambition and challenging the status quo defined much of her outlook. 'She wore a St. Francis medallion every day,' Lisa shared. That necklace, a symbol of peace and service, now echoes her daughter's spirit—a life cut short, but lived meaningfully.
Daily Mirror
09-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Politician's daughter said she felt sick on holiday - minutes later she was dead
The devastated family of Molly McGovern, daughter of US congresswoman JimMcGovern, have paid tribute to the 23-year-old after she suddenly died during a dream holiday The 'courageous and special' daughter of a US congressman died moments after she had complained of feeling ill on a dream holiday during a break in her studies. Molly McGovern said to her travelmates she felt nauseous during a meal out with a friend and his family in Italy, before collapsing. Tragically the 23-year-old, who was diagnosed with a rare cancer at 18 but managed the disease with treatment, died only a few minutes later. Molly's father is US congressman Jim McGovern who wrote a sweet tribute to his daughter on social media to confirm she had passed away 'unexpectedly', with many reacting with sadness. Molly had flown to Rome on Easter Sunday, dying three days later on April 23, in Assisi. Her dad said: 'Molly radiated pure joy. She lit up every room with her beaming smile—full of laughter, endless warmth, and a sharp wit that could disarm you in an instant. She was unbelievably funny, fiercely loyal, and wise beyond her years. "Molly had a rare gift: She made everyone feel special, because she genuinely believed everyone was special. She treated people with compassion and kindness—always standing up for the underdog, and making fast friends wherever she went. "Her love for the Boston Bruins was fierce, but it was no match for the love she gave so freely to her family and friends. If you ever met Molly, you carried a piece of her light with you. She had that kind of effect on people. 'Even as she faced a rare cancer diagnosis, she did so with relentless courage, optimism, and tenacity—refusing to let her illness slow her down. Molly will always be the soul of our family. We are so proud of her, and so glad that so many people were touched by her incredible life. We love you, Molly. We miss you already.' "She had a great 23 years, but who would have thought the last five years would be the best," her mother said. "There were little miracles everywhere." Congresswoman Haley Stevens added on X: 'Yesterday, I spoke about the passing of my friend and the daughter of my colleague, Molly McGovern. Molly was a light to everyone who met her, she wanted to make everyone around her happier, even after a rare cancer diagnosis. She will be so missed, but her impact on the people who knew her will carry on.' On the day she died, Molly had been texting with former US House Speaker and family friend, Nancy Pelosi, who was preparing to travel to Italy for the funeral of Pope Francis. Pelosi recalled that when she learned Molly had died just hours after sending texts, she reached out to her father to say: "I think his holiness, who was so saintly, decided he wanted another angel in heaven. And that would be Molly, because she was so good." "To be honest, my first thought was: 'Oh my God, poor Pope Francis,'" Jim McGovern joked in his eulogy at his daughter's funeral, adding that she would be a livelier angel than the pontiff expected. Her family and friends spoke of her life mission to stand up for anyone who needed a friend, especially if they were being picked on. "She hated bullies, she hated cruelty, and she wanted everyone to love each other," said her Democrat father. Molly had taken a trip to Italy to celebrate after finishing a semester abroad in Australia. She was studying for a bachelor's degree in political science and international affairs at Boston's Northeastern University.
News.com.au
09-05-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
US politician's 23yo daughter dies on holiday after semester abroad in Australia
The parents of a 23-year-old who died suddenly last month after falling ill during a dinner on a European holiday have opened up about her final moments. Molly McGovern, the daughter of US congressman Jim McGovern, died just minutes after experiencing a wave of nausea while having a jovial meal with a friend and his family on a trip to Assisi in central Italy, The Boston Globe reported. At the age of just 18, Molly was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, but she found a way to manage her medical treatment and kept up a vigorous life. Mr McGovern wrote on Instagram that Molly had been holidaying in Italy after finishing a semester abroad in Australia, and had 'passed away unexpectedly'. She was studying a bachelor's degree in political science and international affairs at Boston's Northeastern University. 'Even as she faced a rare cancer diagnosis, she did so with relentless courage, optimism, and tenacity — refusing to let her illness slow her down,' Mr McGovern wrote. Mr McGovern described his daughter as being 'full of laughter, endless warmth, and a sharp wit that could disarm you in an instant'. 'She was unbelievably funny, fiercely loyal, and wise beyond her years. Molly had a rare gift: She made everyone feel special, because she genuinely believed everyone was special,' the politician said. On the day she died, she had exchanged texts with former US House Speaker and family friend Nancy Pelosi, who was preparing to travel to Italy for the funeral of Pope Francis. 'I think his holiness, who was so saintly, decided he wanted another angel in heaven,' Ms Pelosi said she told Mr McGovern last week. 'And that would be Molly, because she was so good.' During his eulogy at Molly's funeral, the 15-term Democrat joked: 'To be honest, my first thought was: 'Oh my God, poor Pope Francis'.' Molly had a close friendship with the Pelosis, and after the former speaker's husband, Paul Pelosi, was attacked at their California home in 2022, she sent him cards and 'a box of sunshine' filled with gifts aimed at cheering him up, the Globe reported. Molly's faith was deeply important to her, her father recalled, even if she wasn't always on board with all of the church's teachings. Asked as a child by a priest what she wanted to be when she grew up, she replied, 'I want to be a cardinal,' he recalled during the eulogy. 'She'd also be saying, 'What's the deal? Why can't women be cardinals?'' he told the Globe. Molly had flown to Rome on Easter Sunday and died three days later in Assisi, a place that held special meaning for her, her mother explained. 'Her everyday necklace was a St. Francis medallion,' Lisa McGovern said in her eulogy. 'She had a great 23 years, but who would have thought the last five years would be the best. There were little miracles everywhere,' she said. Mr McGovern, the top Democrat on the powerful House Rules Committee, has represented the Bay State since 1997 and has served its 2nd Congressional District since 2013.
Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Congressman reveals heartbreakingly unexpected way daughter, 23, died during vacation to Italy
The family of a Massachusetts congressman revealed their daughter tragically died on a trip to Italy after suffering a 'wave of nausea' during a dinner with friends. Molly McGovern, the daughter of Rep. James McGovern, passed away aged just 23 last month after flying to Rome for Easter Sunday. Three days later, she died minutes after being hit with nausea while enjoying a dinner out with a group of friends, with her heartbroken family saying it was a fitting end to her joyous life, per the Boston Globe. 'Anytime you were with Molly McGovern you knew you were going to have a good time,' her sister Kathleen Gearan said. 'And she made sure of it.' Her family said she was diagnosed with a rare cancer almost six years ago shortly after her 18th birthday, and made sure to live life to the fullest as she battled the disease. 'She had a great 23 years, but who would have thought the last five years would be the best,' her mother Lisa McGovern said at a eulogy for her daughter on Saturday. 'There were little miracles everywhere.' Her father said in a statement after her death last month that 'even as she faced a rare cancer diagnosis, she did so with relentless courage, optimism, and tenacity—refusing to let her illness slow her down.' Molly's mother said her passing in Italy came as she travelled to the city of Assisi, which she said had special meaning to her religious daughter. 'Her everyday necklace was a St. Francis medallion,' she said in the eulogy. At the time of her death, Molly was studying political science and international affairs at Northeastern University, and was known as a popular figure in the halls of Congress when visiting her father. When she travelled to Italy last month, she reportedly exchanged texts with former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was friends with Molly and her father, a Democrat. Pelosi was preparing to go to Italy for Pope Francis' funeral, and she grew close to Molly after her husband Paul Pelosi was assaulted in a home invasion in 2022. The former Speaker told the Boston Globe that Molly sent her husband a 'box of sunshine' after the attack to lift his spirits, and said she was heartbroken to learn she died just hours after they last texted each other. She said she reached out to her father to tell him: 'I think his holiness, who was so saintly, decided he wanted another angel in heaven. And that would be Molly, because she was so good.' Pelosi was reportedly among those who attended Molly's funeral in Massachusetts over the weekend. Former President Bill Clinton was in attendance, as were multiple US senators and representatives. At Molly's eulogy on Saturday, her father joked that when he learned that his daughter passed away, 'My first thought was 'Oh my God, poor Pope Francis', quipping that his daughter would be a handful even in heaven. 'She hated bullies, she hated cruelty, and she wanted everyone to love each other,' he added. The congressman said his daughter bravely fought her cancer for years and most people who met her had no idea she had the illness. 'She always looked great,' he said. 'She decided to treat her cancer as merely a nuisance.' Her older brother Patrick said Molly was his 'best friend and favorite person', and said in his eulogy: 'Molly's heart is so big, and she went out of her way every single day to share that love with everybody she met. 'I've never met such contagious, inclusive love and she had so much of it. For those on the receiving end of it, it was the best feeling in the world.'
