HR0243 LRB095 11519 KXB 34202 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Scleroderma, or systemic sclerosis, is a chronic
3 connective tissue disease generally classified as one of the
4 autoimmune rheumatic diseases; the word "scleroderma" comes
5 from two Greek words: "sclero" meaning hard, and "derma"
6 meaning skin; and
 
7     WHEREAS, Hardening of the skin is one of the most visible
8 manifestations of the disease; the disease has been called
9 "progressive systemic sclerosis," but the use of that term has
10 been discouraged since it has been found that scleroderma is
11 not necessarily progressive; the disease may take several
12 forms, and there is also much variability among patients; and
 
13     WHEREAS, Scleroderma is not contagious, it is not
14 infectious, it is not cancerous or malignant; there are an
15 estimated 300,000 people in the United States who have
16 scleroderma, about one third of whom have the systemic form of
17 scleroderma; localized scleroderma is more common in children,
18 whereas systemic scleroderma is more common in adults;
19 scleroderma can develop and is found in every age group from
20 infants to the elderly, but its onset is most frequent between
21 the ages of 25 to 55; and
 
22     WHEREAS, The Greater Chicago Chapter of the Scleroderma

 

 

HR0243 - 2 - LRB095 11519 KXB 34202 r

1 Foundation is working within the State of Illinois to heighten
2 awareness and aid in funding for research for this disease; and
 
3     WHEREAS, The mission of the Greater Chicago Chapter of the
4 Scleroderma Foundation is to help patients and their families
5 cope with scleroderma through mutual support programs, peer
6 counseling, physician referrals, and educational information;
7 to promote public awareness and education through patient and
8 health professional seminars, literature, and publicity
9 campaigns; and to stimulate and support research to improve
10 treatment and ultimately find the cause of and cure for
11 scleroderma and related diseases; therefore, be it
 
12     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
13 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
14 proclaim April 26, 2007 to be Scleroderma Awareness Day in the
15 State of Illinois, asking all the citizens of the State of
16 Illinois to take time to learn more about scleroderma and the
17 need for more funding to combat this disease; and be it further
 
18     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19 presented to the Greater Chicago Chapter of the Scleroderma
20 Foundation as a symbol of our respect.