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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 20, 2015 02:37 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Joseph T. Hackett and Rep. Martin T. Causer |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Designating March 2015 as Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD) Awareness Month – INTRODUCING ON 3/25 |
| Next Wednesday (March 25th) we will be introducing a resolution to designate March 2015 as Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD) Awareness Month in Pennsylvania. FMD is a rare disease that causes abnormal cell growth of the arterial walls and leads to blood pressure complications. It affects only 4-5% of the population, but 90% of those diagnosed are female. Because it is so rare, patients and their families often must bear a large share of the burden for educating others, including physicians, and raising funds for awareness and research. We were recently approached by a woman whose daughter was diagnosed with FMD ten years ago and underwent what was supposed to be routine tonsil surgery after her diagnosis. She tried to inform the surgeons of her daughter’s condition and warn them that her blood pressure could spike dangerously, but because there is so little awareness for the disease, the surgeons didn’t heed her warnings. They ended up hospitalizing her daughter in the ICU for several days following the surgery because her blood pressure spiked so severely during surgery that they were fearful she would suffer a stroke. Coincidentally, this young lady will be undergoing yet another heart surgery on March 25th – the day we will introduce the resolution. By declaring March as Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD) Awareness Month, we will be doing a small part in helping to raise awareness for this rare, yet dangerous disease. We hope you will join us in cosponsoring this resolution. Thank you. |
Introduced as HR202