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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Few people know of mitochondrial disease, yet
3every 30 minutes a child is born who will develop this disease
4by the age of 10; and
 
5    WHEREAS, There is no cure for mitochondrial disease; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Mitochondrial disease is often misdiagnosed; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Mitochondrial disease occurs when mitochondria
8inside of cells, which are responsible for creating more than
990% of the energy needed by the body to sustain life and
10support growth, fail to carry out their primary functions; and
 
11    WHEREAS, When mitochondria fail, less energy is generated
12within the cell; and
 
13    WHEREAS, If this process is repeated throughout the body,
14whole systems begin to fail, and the person's life is severely
15compromised; and
 
16    WHEREAS, The disease primarily affects children; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Diseases of the mitochondria appear to cause the
18most damage to cells of the brain, heart, liver, skeletal

 

 

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1muscles, kidneys, and the endocrine and respiratory systems;
2and
 
3    WHEREAS, Common symptoms include muscle weakness and pain,
4gastrointestinal disorders, poor growth, cardiac disease,
5liver disease, diabetes, respiratory problems, seizures,
6visual and hearing problems, and susceptibility to infection;
7and
 
8    WHEREAS, Because so little is known about the disease,
9there are only a few hospitals in the world that offer
10treatment, causing affected families to travel regularly or
11even relocate to receive treatment; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Mitochondrial disease is progressive, likely
13terminal, and requires a high level of care and extremely
14expensive medical treatment that often exceeds covered
15insurance benefits, creating great financial burdens on
16affected families; and
 
17    WHEREAS, The 3rd week of September is observed globally as
18Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week; therefore, be it
 
19    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
20ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we designate the 3rd
21week of September 2015 as Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week

 

 

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1in the State of Illinois; and be it further
 
2    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
3presented to the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation
4(UMDF) and the Chicago Area Chapter of the UMDF.