SR0436 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0436 LRB099 12023 GRL 34607 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Heterotaxy syndrome is a disorder that results in certain organs forming on the opposite side of the body; Heterotaxy has been known to affect the development of the heart, liver, lungs, intestines, and spleen; and

WHEREAS, Babies with Heterotaxy syndrome are usually first identified because they have structural problems with their hearts or livers; 4 out of every 1,000,000 babies born will have Heterotaxy syndrome; and

WHEREAS, Babies with Heterotaxy can have symptoms that start shortly after birth, including a blue color to the skin (cyanosis), poor feeding habits, fast breathing, increased sweating when they eat, or poor weight gain; all of these symptoms can indicate heart failure in the baby; other symptoms include heart murmurs, biliary atresia, intestinal blockage, no spleen (asplenia), and many little spleens (polysplenia); and

WHEREAS, The exact cause of Heterotaxy is not known, but the symptoms result from the way that the internal organs turn into position during fetal development; this rotation can be affected by many different factors, including infection, genetics, or exposure to certain chemicals; and

WHEREAS, The use of echocardiograms, electrocardiograms, and x-rays, among other medical diagnostic tools, can ensure a timely and accurate diagnosis of Heterotaxy syndrome; the use of medication and surgical procedures can then be used to help treat the syndrome; and

WHEREAS, Without corrective surgery, most children with Heterotaxy syndrome and significant heart problems will not survive beyond the first year of life; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we designate May 4, 2015 as Heterotaxy Awareness Day in the State of Illinois in order to bring attention to this disorder and the efforts of many to treat this serious problem.