1Designating May 2013 as "Childhood Stroke Awareness Month" in
2Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, The incidence of stroke is not restricted to adults,
4but occurs in children before, during and after birth; and

5WHEREAS, Pediatric strokes affect one in every 3,000 to 4,000
6children, including children in utero up to 18 years of age; and

7WHEREAS, At least one out of ten children with ischemic
8stroke will have a recurrence within five years; and

9WHEREAS, Acute ischemic stroke has been estimated to occur as
10much as three in ten thousand births in infants; and

11WHEREAS, Up to a third of children who have had a stroke will
12have a recurrent stroke; and

13WHEREAS, Nine percent of children who suffer strokes will
14die; and

15WHEREAS, More than half of the children who suffer a stroke
16will develop lifelong cognitive or motor disability in addition

1to, but not limited to, long-term neurological disabilities; and

2WHEREAS, Children suffering a stroke may have paralysis of
3one side of the body, seizures, speech and vision problems and
4learning difficulties that may require ongoing physical, speech
5and occupational therapy in addition to surgeries, including
6orthopedic and brain surgery; and

7WHEREAS, Very little is known about childhood stroke,
8treatment and prevention, and only through medical research and
9education may effective treatment and prevention techniques be
10developed; and

11WHEREAS, Early diagnosis of childhood stroke is essential for
12implementing early intervention through services such as speech,
13occupational and physical therapy, as well as assisting in the
14prevention of recurrence; therefore be it

15RESOLVED, That the Senate designate May 2013 as "Childhood
16Stroke Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania; and be it further

17RESOLVED, That the Senate urge all citizens to support the
18efforts, programs, education, services and advocacy that the
19Pediatric Stroke Network, Inc., provide as it strives to enhance
20public awareness of childhood stroke.