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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a recessive
3form of muscular dystrophy that causes muscle weakness with
4symptoms beginning in early childhood and has no cure; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is caused by a
6mutation in the dystrophin gene, located on the X chromosome,
7which is spread to the child through genetics affecting around
81 in 3,600 boys; women can also carry the gene, but typically
9do not show the effects of DMD; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is not first
11noticeable at birth, with symptoms usually showing early signs
12around ages 1-3, but symptoms progressively increase as the
13child grows older; and
 
14    WHEREAS, The early signs of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy are
15the child having difficulty walking and running; when holding
16the child you can feel a looseness of muscles; calf muscles
17look bulky, but are weak; as the child grows older, they use
18their hands to help themselves get up; the child's speech
19development may also be delayed; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy can affect boys from
21any background and is not more prevalent in any race, culture,

 

 

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1or socioeconomic background compared to another; and
 
2    WHEREAS, There is no cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy,
3but treatments exist which have made great progress to help
4people living with this disease; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a fatal disorder,
6with those who are affected having a life expectancy of around
725 years; living with this disease is incredibly difficult for
8the child and their families; and
 
9    WHEREAS, The Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy was
10established in 1994 to help families living with this disease,
11bring awareness to the public, and raise funds to expand
12research for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy; and
 
13    WHEREAS, The 20th annual conference of the Parent Project
14Muscular Dystrophy will be held June 26-29 in Chicago; this
15conference brings families from around the world together to
16learn about the progress being made in the fight to end
17Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy; therefore, be it
 
18    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
19NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
20we designate the week of June 23-29, 2014 as Duchenne Muscular
21Dystrophy Awareness Week in the State of Illinois; and be it

 

 

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1further
 
2    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
3presented to the Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy as a symbol
4of our esteem and respect.