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1		SENATE RESOLUTION
2		WHEREAS, Few people know of mitochondrial disease, yet
3		every 30 minutes a child is born who will develop this disease
4		by 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
8		inside of cells, which are responsible for creating more than
9		90% of the energy needed by the body to sustain life and
10		support growth, fail to carry out their primary functions; and
11		WHEREAS, When mitochondria fail, less energy is generated
12		within the cell; and
13		WHEREAS, If this process is repeated throughout the body,
14		whole systems begin to fail, and the person's life is severely
15		compromised; and
16		WHEREAS, The disease primarily affects children; and
17		WHEREAS, Diseases of the mitochondria appear to cause the
18		most damage to cells of the brain, heart, liver, skeletal

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1		muscles, kidneys, and the endocrine and respiratory systems;
2		and
3		WHEREAS, Common symptoms include muscle weakness and pain,
4		gastrointestinal disorders, poor growth, cardiac disease,
5		liver disease, diabetes, respiratory problems, seizures,
6		visual and hearing problems, and susceptibility to infection;
7		and
8		WHEREAS, Because so little is known about the disease,
9		there are only a few hospitals in the world that offer
10		treatment, causing affected families to travel regularly or
11		even relocate to receive treatment; and
12		WHEREAS, Mitochondrial disease is progressive, likely
13		terminal, and requires a high level of care and extremely
14		expensive medical treatment that often exceeds covered
15		insurance benefits, creating great financial burdens on
16		affected families; and
17		WHEREAS, The 3rd week of September is observed globally as
18		Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week; therefore, be it
19		RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL
20		ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we designate the 3rd
21		week of September 2014 as Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week

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