THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY SEIP, BAKER, BARBIN, BEAR, BEYER, BOBACK, BRENNAN, BROWN, CAUSER, COHEN, CONKLIN, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, FAIRCHILD, FRANKEL, GEIST, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, SWANGER, TRUE, VEREB, WHITE, YOUNGBLOOD, VULAKOVICH, MILLARD, DeLUCA, ROCK, WATERS, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SCHRODER, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, SONNEY, STABACK, STERN, GRUCELA, HARHAI, HARHART, HELM, HENNESSEY, HESS, HORNAMAN, KORTZ, KOTIK, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANN, McILVAINE SMITH, MELIO, MENSCH, MILNE, MOUL, M. O'BRIEN, PALLONE, PARKER, PASHINSKI, PAYNE, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, QUINN, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROSS, SAINATO, DEASY AND KULA, APRIL 27, 2009

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, APRIL 27, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Designating May 2, 2009, as "Childhood Stroke Awareness Day" in

Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, Neonatal strokes, strokes occurring before or after

birth, occur at the rate of one in 4,000 births each year, with

12% of infants dying due to stroke; and

WHEREAS, Pediatric strokes occurring in children under two

years of age account for 25% of all childhood strokes; and

WHEREAS, Causes of stroke include inherited clotting

disorders, congenital heart disease, sickle cell disease,

prematurity and head trauma; and

WHEREAS, Symptoms of childhood stroke include seizure, coma,

apnea, poor feeding, infantile spasms, very specific hand

preference, delays in gross motor development, tightness or

restricted movement in large joints or language delays with some

symptoms appearing years later; and

WHEREAS, More than half of child stroke victims have serious,

long-term neurological disabilities, including paralysis of one

side of the body, seizures, speech defects, vision problems,

learning difficulties and behavioral problems which may require

ongoing physical therapy and surgeries; and

WHEREAS, Since very little is known about the cause,

treatment and prevention of childhood stroke, only through

medical research can effective treatment and prevention

strategies for pediatric stroke be identified and developed; and

WHEREAS, Early diagnosis and early treatment of childhood

stroke are essential for a complete recovery and prevention of

recurrence; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate May 2,

2009, as "Childhood Stroke Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania; and

be it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge all citizens

to support the efforts, programs, services and advocacy the

Children's Hemiplegia and Stroke Association provides as it

strives to enhance public awareness of childhood stroke.