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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Jonathan Alexander Wilkins was born with a severe
3case of Hirschsprung's disease; he had an obstructed colon and
4was unable to have a bowel movement; in his 2 years of life he
5underwent 4 major surgeries but lost his battle to live 2
6months after his last surgery; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Hirschsprung's Disease is a rare congenital
8(present at birth) abnormality that results in obstruction
9because the intestines do not work normally; it is most often
10found in males; it is commonly found in Down Syndrome children;
11it can be life-threatening or a chronic disorder; the
12inadequate motility is a result of an aganglionic (without
13nerve tissue) section of the intestines resulting in megacolon
14(dilated section of colon); and
 
15    WHEREAS, In a newborn, the chief signs and symptoms are
16failure to pass a meconium stool within 24-48 hours after
17birth, reluctance to eat, bile-stained (green) vomiting, and
18abdominal distension; during infancy the child has difficulty
19gaining weight, constipation, abdominal distension, episodes
20of diarrhea and vomiting; explosive watery diarrhea, fever, and
21exhaustion are signs of enterocolitis (inflammation of the
22colon) and are considered serious and life-threatening; and
 

 

 

HR0466- 2 -LRB097 12416 KXB 56897 r

1    WHEREAS, Doctors don't know what causes the disease, but it
2tends to run in families; it may also be linked to other
3medical problems, such as Down syndrome and congenital heart
4disease; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Children with Hirschsprung's disease need surgery
6to remove the diseased part of the large intestine; surgery is
7often done within the first days or month of life, soon after
8the disease is found; children with Hirschsprung's disease need
91 or 2 surgeries; therefore, be it
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
11NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
12we designate September 25th as Hirschsprung Disease Awareness
13Day in the State of Illinois in memory of Jonathan Alexander
14Wilkins; and be it further
 
15    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
16delivered to the family of Jonathan Alexander Wilkins as a
17symbol of our respect and esteem.