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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, In February 2013, generous residents of Georgetown |
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and the surrounding area collected more than $7,000 to help offset |
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the costs of a life-saving operation for five-year-old Wynter |
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Young; and |
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WHEREAS, Wynter is a special needs child born with Down |
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syndrome; strong-willed, rambunctious, and blessed with a beaming |
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smile, she is supported by her loving parents, Adam and Tiffany |
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Young, who have worked to ensure that their daughter experiences |
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all the joys of childhood while she grows to her full potential; and |
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WHEREAS, During a routine medical visit in April 2012, tests |
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revealed that Wynter had a rare complication called |
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atlanto-occipital instability, which placed her at serious risk of |
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breaking her spinal cord in the event of a fall or other traumatic |
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movement; the Youngs quickly began working with doctors to devise a |
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plan of treatment and found that an intensive 10-hour spinal fusion |
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surgery would be required to correct her condition; and |
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WHEREAS, Wynter was cleared to undergo the procedure at |
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Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, which agreed to |
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cover the medical costs; the family still faced a litany of |
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expenses, however, including airfare and hotel stays for several |
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round trips to the hospital; and |
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WHEREAS, Soon enough, the story of this vulnerable young girl |
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and her family reached neighbors across the city, and support began |
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pouring in from a multitude of sources; businesses stepped up to |
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provide them with new tires for the family car and a new mattress, |
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and a team from Home Depot even renovated their kitchen and |
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bathrooms to better accommodate Wynter's recovery process; a number |
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of significant contributions arrived from outside of Georgetown, in |
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particular from members of the Austin Shriners; and |
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WHEREAS, This widespread generosity culminated in a |
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fund-raiser hosted by the family's congregation at NewChurch in |
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partnership with the Downtown Georgetown Alliance; the event drew |
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some 500 attendees for an evening of food, live music, and |
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entertainment and featured a silent auction with a diverse showcase |
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of donations, including footballs autographed by The University of |
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Texas head football coach Mack Brown, as well as quilts stitched and |
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pecans gathered especially for the occasion; and |
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WHEREAS, With the help of organizations, businesses, |
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families, and many caring individuals, the outcome of the |
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fund-raiser far exceeded expectations; on March 7, Wynter |
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successfully underwent surgery, and although the road ahead is |
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long, hopes are high that she will once again be able to run and play |
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without fear of harm; and |
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WHEREAS, The strength of a community may best be judged by how |
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its members care for the most vulnerable among them, and through |
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this meaningful act of charity, area citizens have not only made a |
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lasting difference in a precious young life, but they have also |
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distinguished Georgetown as a place that many compassionate and |
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committed people call home; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend the people of Georgetown and beyond for |
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their outstanding efforts in behalf of Wynter Young and her family. |