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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, For the past 35 years Camp Okawehna has provided a |
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memorable summer camp experience to countless children who are |
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facing chronic kidney disease; and |
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WHEREAS, More than 7,000 children have been diagnosed with |
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chronic kidney disease in the United States since 1994, and |
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approximately half of these children require dialysis or kidney |
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transplants as the illness progresses; Dialysis Clinic, Inc., a |
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nonprofit organization that operates facilities throughout the |
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country, established Camp Okawehna in 1974 as a summer camp for |
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children with this serious condition; and |
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WHEREAS, This full-service camp is held annually during the |
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first full week of June at the Cedar Crest Campground near |
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Nashville, Tennessee; Camp Okawehna features onsite medical |
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facilities and is open to children ages 6 to 18 who have kidney |
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disease, as well as those who have had transplants or are undergoing |
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dialysis therapy; although at least 90 percent of these young |
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patients are able to participate fully in sports and other physical |
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activities, they often maintain rigid daily schedules, and Camp |
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Okawehna offers them a welcome respite in a fun-filled atmosphere; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Campers spend their time playing basketball or |
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soccer, swimming, canoeing, or engaging in ropes courses and |
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scavenger hunts; the children also enjoy arts and crafts projects, |
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dances, and bonfires, and they can relax in the company of others |
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who have had similar experiences with chronic kidney disease; what |
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began with 15 campers in its first year has grown to accommodate |
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more than 110 children from all over the country, along with 80 |
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staff volunteers; and |
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WHEREAS, The cost of attending Camp Okawehna is largely |
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underwritten by Dialysis Clinic, Inc.; this notable organization |
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also administers the treatment of children from the Lone Star State |
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at its Austin facility, the Children's Dialysis Clinic of Central |
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Texas, and in 2009, DCI is hosting the following young Texans at |
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Camp Okawehna: Austin Booth, Avonna James, Aaron Stevenson, Sandra |
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Rodriguez, Oscar Rangel, Mitchell Vanderwoude, Max Schultz, Isaac |
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Botello, Romeena Momin, and Lonnie Wren; and |
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WHEREAS, Camp Okawehna has demonstrated an unwavering |
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commitment to children with chronic kidney disease, and its campers |
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have benefited in myriad ways from this noteworthy institution; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend Camp Okawehna for its invaluable service |
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to children coping with chronic kidney disease and extend to all |
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those associated with the camp sincere best wishes for continued |
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success with this worthy endeavor; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Camp Okawehna as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |
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Kuempel |
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Alvarado |
Gonzales |
Miller of Comal |
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Anchia |
Gonzalez Toureilles |
Miller of Erath |
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Aycock |
Gutierrez |
Morrison |
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Branch |
Harper-Brown |
Ortiz, Jr. |
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Brown of Kaufman |
Hartnett |
Otto |
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Brown of Brazos |
Heflin |
Parker |
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Callegari |
Hilderbran |
Pena |
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Cohen |
Howard of Fort Bend |
Quintanilla |
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Coleman |
Howard of Travis |
Raymond |
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Craddick |
Jackson |
Rodriguez |
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Crownover |
Keffer |
Sheffield |
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Davis of Harris |
King of Parker |
Smith of Tarrant |
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Davis of Dallas |
King of Taylor |
Smith of Harris |
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Deshotel |
King of Zavala |
Smithee |
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Driver |
Kleinschmidt |
Solomons |
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Eiland |
Leibowitz |
Thompson |
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Elkins |
Lucio III |
Turner of Tarrant |
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England |
Madden |
Turner of Harris |
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Farias |
Mallory Caraway |
Veasey |
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Farrar |
Marquez |
Villarreal |
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Flores |
Martinez Fischer |
Walle |
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Gallego |
McReynolds |
Zerwas |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 227 was adopted by the House on |
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February 4, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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