SR0579 LRB094 18959 HSS 54419 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Congenital Heart Defects are the most frequently
3 occurring birth defect and the leading cause of birth defect
4 related deaths worldwide; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Although each year 40,000 babies are born in the
6 United States with Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs), newborns
7 with potentially life-threatening conditions are not routinely
8 screened; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Nearly twice as many children die from congenital
10 heart defects as from all childhood cancers combined, yet
11 research for cancer receives five times the funding; and
 
12     WHEREAS, Many cases of sudden cardiac death in young
13 athletes are caused by undiagnosed CHDs and Childhood-Onset
14 Heart Disease; and
 
15     WHEREAS, Raising awareness about CHDs is important; it will
16 provide hope for families of CHD survivors and comfort to those
17 whose loved ones have lost their battles; it will inform the
18 general public about the symptoms of CHDs and possibly save
19 lives; and it will affirm the need for increased funding to
20 researchers and medical professionals so they can continue
21 their work to improve the outlook for CHD patients; and
 
22     WHEREAS, The month of February has been designated as
23 Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Month; therefore, be it
 
24     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL
25 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare February of
26 2006 to be Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Month in the State
27 of Illinois, and we encourage all citizens to increase
28 awareness, education, and services for Congenital Heart
29 Defects which each year affect thousands of babies in Illinois;

 

 

SR0579 - 2 - LRB094 18959 HSS 54419 r

1 and be it further
 
2     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
3 presented to Kathleen Mappa, Group Coordinator of Big Dreams
4 for Little Hearts in Chicago.