HR1535

LRB095 22576 KXB 52980 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, Mitochondria are the power plants in every cell of 
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a person's body and create more than 90% of the energy needed 
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by the body to sustain life and support growth; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mitochondria may not function correctly due to 
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genetic defects, damage caused by drugs, or damage caused by 
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destructive molecules called free radicals; and

 
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    WHEREAS, When mitochondria fail, cell injury and cell death 
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follow, and if the process is repeated throughout the body, 
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whole systems begin to fail; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mitochondrial diseases can cause isolated 
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symptoms like seizures, low blood counts, blindness, deafness, 
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dementia, heart failure, and progressive muscle weakness, but 
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more often they cause failure of several organ systems in 
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sequence; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Although mitochondrial diseases can affect any 
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person at any age it is estimated that more than one in 4,000 
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children born in the United States each year will develop a 
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mitochondrial disease by ten years of age; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Since mitochondrial disorders mimic other 
 


 






HR1535
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LRB095 22576 KXB 52980 r




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diseases, it is believed that they are under-diagnosed; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Currently no cures or effective therapies exist, 
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but early diagnosis can help patients and their families use 
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proper medication and nutritional supplements to improve the 
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quality of life and even prolong life; and

 
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    WHEREAS, It is important that citizens of the State of 
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Illinois be better informed about mitochondrial diseases and 
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their impact; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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designate the third week of September of 2008 as Mitochondrial 
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Disease Awareness Week in the State of Illinois and the 
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citizens of the State of Illinois are urged to observe the week 
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with appropriate activities and programs; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation as a 
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symbol of our support for raising awareness about mitochondrial 
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disease.