R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Amanda Coats, the young daughter of Lucrezia and 1-2 Lynn Coats of Childress, has been diagnosed with Rett Syndrome 1-3 (RS), and in selflessly sharing their daughter's story with others, 1-4 Mr. and Mrs. Coats have helped to ensure that the public will 1-5 become better-informed about this serious illness; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Rett Syndrome is a neurological condition that is 1-7 found primarily in girls; striking children between the ages of 6 1-8 and 18 months, it stops or reverses development, causing a loss of 1-9 speech and motor control; estimated to affect some 200,000 persons 1-10 worldwide, it is often mistaken for autism or cerebral palsy; and 1-11 WHEREAS, Amanda began to exhibit symptoms of Rett Syndrome 1-12 during her second year, but it was not until after innumerable 1-13 doctor visits and many misdiagnoses that she received a definitive 1-14 assessment at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston; now she is one 1-15 of 30 girls involved in an RS study at the college; and 1-16 WHEREAS, Named for Dr. Andreas Rett of Vienna, Austria, who 1-17 first published discussions of the condition in the mid-1900s, RS 1-18 was not described in an English-language article until 1983; 1-19 genetic research has been impeded by the fact that RS is inherited 1-20 in only 0.5 percent of cases, but in 1999 scientists scored a 1-21 crucial breakthrough: the laboratories of Drs. Huda Zoghbi and Uta 1-22 Francke, Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigators working with 1-23 grants from the National Institute for Child Health and Human 1-24 Development and the International Rett Syndrome Association (IRSA), 2-1 succeeded in identifying the defective gene that causes Rett 2-2 Syndrome; and 2-3 WHEREAS, The discovery of this gene has encouraged other 2-4 scientists to focus on RS; in the United States, more than $15 2-5 million for RS study has been allocated by congress, and two 2-6 research centers are now working on the disease: The Blue Bird 2-7 Circle Rett Center at Baylor College of Medicine and the Kennedy 2-8 Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Maryland; two nonprofit 2-9 organizations, the IRSA and the Rett Syndrome Research Foundation, 2-10 support the investigation of RS in a number of ways; and 2-11 WHEREAS, While the struggle to conquer RS will be long and 2-12 arduous, the acceleration of research holds out hope for continuing 2-13 gains; already, location of the defective gene has made it possible 2-14 to diagnose the syndrome more easily, and in time it may also be 2-15 possible to forestall the syndrome's disabling effects; in the 2-16 meantime, researchers are working to improve life for those who 2-17 have the disease; and 2-18 WHEREAS, Many initiatives to raise awareness of Rett Syndrome 2-19 have recently been launched; Silent Angels, a documentary narrated 2-20 by Rett activist Julia Roberts, aired on the Discovery Health 2-21 Channel in August 2000, and for the last several years October has 2-22 been designated Rett Syndrome Awareness Month; throughout the year 2-23 numerous individuals organize educational and fund-raising events, 2-24 such as the Run for Rett, and the International Rett Syndrome 2-25 Association makes a significant contribution through its public 2-26 outreach, offering critical support to those affected by RS, and 2-27 working to further medical understanding and therapeutic care; and 3-1 WHEREAS, Amanda Coats and her family are embarking on a 3-2 challenging journey, and as the quest for greater knowledge and 3-3 improved treatment continues, they are indeed deserving of our deep 3-4 respect and wholehearted support; now, therefore, be it 3-5 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 3-6 Legislature hereby honor Amanda Coats and her parents, Lynn and 3-7 Lucrezia Coats, for their extraordinary contributions in behalf of 3-8 Rett Syndrome patients and their families and extend to them 3-9 sincere best wishes for the years ahead; and, be it further 3-10 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-11 prepared for Amanda Coats and her family as an expression of high 3-12 regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Hardcastle _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 435 was adopted by the House on April 27, 2001, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House