1Designating January 15, 2014, as "Krabbe Disease Awareness Day"
2in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, Globoid cell leukodystrophy, or Krabbe disease, is
4caused by the shortage of an enzyme called galactosylceramidase;
5and

6WHEREAS, The enzyme shortage impairs the growth and
7maintenance of myelin resulting in central nervous system
8disruptions; and

9WHEREAS, The disease affects muscle tone and movement and may
10cause vision and hearing loss, among other devastating effects;
11and

12WHEREAS, In most cases, Krabbe disease develops in babies
13before 6 months of age, although it can occur in older children
14and in adults; and

15WHEREAS, The symptoms of Krabbe disease include feeding

1difficulties, unexplained crying, loss of head control, fevers,
2vomiting, extreme irritability, changes in muscle tone, limb and
3muscle stiffness, poor coordination of movements, seizures,
4progressive loss of hearing and sight, spasticity and loss of
5developmental milestones; and

6WHEREAS, Most children who develop Krabbe disease in infancy
7die before the age of 2 years old, most often from respiratory
8failure or complications of immobility and markedly decreased
9muscle tone; and

10WHEREAS, There is no cure for Krabbe disease and treatment
11mainly involves easing symptoms; and

12WHEREAS, Krabbe disease affects about 1 in every 100,000
13people in the United States; therefore be it

14RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize January
1515, 2014, as "Krabbe Disease Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania.