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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Congenital Heart Defects are the most frequently
3 occurring birth defect and the leading cause of birth defect
4 related deaths worldwide; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Although each year 40,000 babies are born in the
6 United States with Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs), newborns
7 with potentially life-threatening conditions are not routinely
8 screened; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Nearly twice as many children die from congenital
10 heart defects as from all childhood cancers combined, yet
11 research for cancer receives five times the funding; and
 
12     WHEREAS, Many cases of sudden cardiac death in young
13 athletes are caused by undiagnosed CHDs and Childhood-Onset
14 Heart Disease; and
 
15     WHEREAS, Raising awareness about CHDs is important; it will
16 provide hope for families of CHD survivors and comfort to those
17 whose loved ones have lost their battles; it will inform the
18 general public about the symptoms of CHDs and possibly save
19 lives; and it will affirm the need for increased funding to
20 researchers and medical professionals so they can continue
21 their work to improve the outlook for CHD patients; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, The month of February has been designated as
2 Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Month; therefore, be it
 
3     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL
4 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare February of
5 each year to be Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Month in the
6 State of Illinois, and we encourage all citizens to increase
7 awareness, education, and services for Congenital Heart
8 Defects which each year affect thousands of babies in Illinois;
9 and be it further
 
10     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
11 presented to Kathleen Mappa, Group Coordinator of Big Dreams
12 for Little Hearts in Chicago.