SR0248 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0248 LRB099 11435 MST 32417 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Few people know of mitochondrial disease, yet every 30 minutes a child is born who will develop this disease by the age of 10; and

WHEREAS, There is no cure for mitochondrial disease; and

WHEREAS, Mitochondrial disease is often misdiagnosed; and

WHEREAS, Mitochondrial disease occurs when mitochondria inside of cells, which are responsible for creating more than 90% of the energy needed by the body to sustain life and support growth, fail to carry out their primary functions; and

WHEREAS, When mitochondria fail, less energy is generated within the cell; and

WHEREAS, If this process is repeated throughout the body, whole systems begin to fail, and the person's life is severely compromised; and

WHEREAS, The disease primarily affects children; and

WHEREAS, Diseases of the mitochondria appear to cause the most damage to cells of the brain, heart, liver, skeletal muscles, kidneys, and the endocrine and respiratory systems; and

WHEREAS, Common symptoms include muscle weakness and pain, gastrointestinal disorders, poor growth, cardiac disease, liver disease, diabetes, respiratory problems, seizures, visual and hearing problems, and susceptibility to infection; and

WHEREAS, Because so little is known about the disease, there are only a few hospitals in the world that offer treatment, causing affected families to travel regularly or even relocate to receive treatment; and

WHEREAS, Mitochondrial disease is progressive, likely terminal, and requires a high level of care and extremely expensive medical treatment that often exceeds covered insurance benefits, creating great financial burdens on affected families; and

WHEREAS, The 3rd week of September is observed globally as Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we designate the 3rd week of September 2015 as Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation (UMDF) and the Chicago Area Chapter of the UMDF.