Georgia-2011-HR78-Introduced

WHEREAS, LifeSouth Community Blood Centers is the eighth largest blood provider in the United States, collecting and supplying blood for more than 110 medical facilities in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia; and

WHEREAS, a nonprofit organization, LifeSouth's mission is to provide a safe blood supply that meets or exceeds the needs of local communities and provide patients with services in support of blood and transfusion related activities; and

WHEREAS, sickle cell disease affects an estimated 70,000 to 100,000 Americans, and the sickle cell trait occurs in about one in 12 African Americans; and

WHEREAS, the life expectancy of an individual with sickle cell disease is approximately 40 years, and those living with the disease may require blood transfusions every four weeks over their lifetime; and

WHEREAS, blood transfusions increase the number of good red blood cells in the blood stream and are the best treatment to alleviate the effects of sickle cell disease; and

WHEREAS, in an effort to mitigate some of the complications due to numerous blood transfusions during the life of a sickle cell patient, LifeSouth has developed the Sickle Cell Hero Program, which is designed to match sickle cell patients with specific donors through a comprehensive blood matching system; and

WHEREAS, the Sickle Cell Hero Program is part of a larger initiative of the Five Points of Life Foundation, which educates and raises awareness of the five ways to share life with others through the donation of blood, apheresis, marrow, cord blood, and organ and tissue; and
WHEREAS, LifeSouth works diligently to remind Americans that January is National Blood Donor Month, encouraging people to give the life-saving and selfless gift of blood that is vital to each and every community; and

WHEREAS, the dedication to improving the lives of Georgians consistently demonstrated by this outstanding corporate citizen is worthy of recognition.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body commend LifeSouth Community Blood Centers for its commitment to helping those living with sickle cell disease through its Sickle Cell Hero Program.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to LifeSouth Community Blood Centers.