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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Since 1949, the Hemophilia Foundation of Illinois
3 has worked to improve the quality of life for over 1,800
4 Illinois residents and their families who are affected by
5 inherited bleeding disorders; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Hemophilia is characterized by the absence of one
7 of the several clotting factors necessary to control bleeding,
8 with the standard care of treatment being the replacement of
9 absent clotting factors necessary to control the bleeding; and
 
10     WHEREAS, In addition to serving people with hemophilia, the
11 Foundation also provides services to Illinois residents with
12 other types of bleeding disorders, including von Willebrand
13 disease, which inflicts 1-2% of the general population; and
 
14     WHEREAS, Treatment for hemophilia requires regular
15 intravenous infusions; without treatment, people with
16 hemophilia face frequent, spontaneous bleeding episodes in
17 their joints, causing swelling in the joints, muscles, internal
18 organs, and brain; repeated bleeding episodes in joints results
19 in a chronic degenerative arthritic condition, which often
20 leads to frequent hospitalizations, permanent disability, and
21 chronic pain; bleeding episodes involving internal organs and
22 the brain can cause permanent damage, disability, and even

 

 

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1 death; severe bleeding episodes result in lost time at school
2 and/or work, decreased quality of life, and the inability to
3 perform basic living activities; and
 
4     WHEREAS, With proper care and access to comprehensive
5 medical resources, people living with hemophilia can control
6 bleeding episodes and can lead productive lives; federally
7 funded hemophilia treatment centers provide comprehensive
8 medical care to persons with hemophilia, von Willebrand
9 disease, and other bleeding and clotting disorders; and
 
10     WHEREAS, The Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee of
11 the National Hemophilia Foundation recommends recombinant
12 factor products as the choice for persons with Hemophilia VIII
13 and IX, the treatment of which is extremely costly; the
14 Foundation has made a difference in the lives of such people by
15 helping them with insurance questions, medical expenses, and
16 keeping them informed about advances in treatment; and
 
17     WHEREAS, Although there is no cure for these genetic
18 disorders, the Hemophilia Foundation of Illinois supports
19 research in health care advancements to create safer blood
20 products, giving persons with these diseases the ability to
21 manage their condition and minimize chronic complications; and
 
22     WHEREAS, Hemophilia and other inherited bleeding disorders

 

 

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1 are not well understood by the general public; and
 
2     WHEREAS, Since 1972, Illinois has expressed its committed
3 to proper care and treatment of children and adults with
4 hemophilia and other related bleeding disorders through the
5 enactment of the Hemophilia Care Program, as well as the
6 recently reenacted Hemophilia Advisory Review Board in 2007; in
7 addition, the 2004 resolution designating March as Hemophilia
8 Awareness Month focused on enhancing the understanding and
9 proper treatment of hemophilia and to encourage participation
10 in activities to support programs to properly treat hemophilia;
11 and
 
12     WHEREAS, Members of the Hemophilia Foundation of Illinois
13 and its extended community of supporters across the great state
14 of Illinois are celebrating Hemophilia Awareness Month by
15 visiting Springfield to participate in a Legislative Advocacy
16 Day at the Capitol on March 17, 2009; and
 
17     WHEREAS, The Hemophilia Foundation of Illinois is
18 celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2009 to recognize its
19 efforts in providing education, advocacy, and consumer
20 services for the Illinois bleeding disorder community;
21 therefore, be it
 
22     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE

 

 

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1 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
2 SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we applaud and honor the
3 Hemophilia Foundation of Illinois for its 60 years of
4 dedicated, outstanding service to the Illinois bleeding
5 disorder community; and be it further
 
6     RESOLVED, That we once again recognize and commemorate the
7 month of March as Hemophilia Awareness Month in the State of
8 Illinois; and be it further
 
9     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
10 delivered to the Hemophilia Foundation of Illinois as a symbol
11 of our respect and esteem.