HR1535 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1535 LRB095 22576 KXB 52980 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

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

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

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

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

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

WHEREAS, Since mitochondrial disorders mimic other diseases, it is believed that they are under-diagnosed; and

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

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

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

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