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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, In 2016, 14-year-old Madeline Smith received the |
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life-changing gift of an organ transplant, and her uplifting story |
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is encouraging others to join in spreading an important message |
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about organ donation; and |
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WHEREAS, The daughter of Trey and Jessica Smith, Madeline |
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Avery Smith was born on July 24, 2002, and diagnosed shortly |
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thereafter with Methylmalonic acidemia, a rare and incurable |
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metabolic disorder that inhibits the body's ability to process |
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certain proteins; despite the physical and developmental |
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challenges associated with the disorder, she was able to learn to |
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walk and speak, surprising her doctors who feared she would |
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struggle to reach basic developmental milestones; her childhood was |
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marked by frequent visits to the hospital, and over the years, she |
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began suffering from renal failure, which eventually required her |
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to undergo dialysis as she waited for a transplant to become |
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available; and |
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WHEREAS, Because of the selfless decision of another set of |
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parents, who found the courage to perform an immeasurable act of |
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kindness after their own personal tragedy, Madeline received a |
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successful double organ transplant of a liver and kidney on August |
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31, 2016; following the operation, her health and quality of life |
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have improved dramatically, and she is now able to enjoy many |
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activities that were previously prohibited to her; and |
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WHEREAS, Inspired by their daughter's journey, Trey and |
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Jessica Smith started "Team Maddie," a grassroots advocacy group |
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aimed at bringing attention to the shortage of organs available for |
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transplant and the thousands of patients, including children, who |
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need them; the couple have partnered with the distance running |
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community, who wear "Team Maddie" shirts in local races to |
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encourage people to sign up to be organ donors during the driver's |
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license renewal process; the Smiths have also received support for |
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their campaign from countless family members, friends, and |
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acquaintances, as well as from strangers from as far away as Italy |
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and Scotland; and |
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WHEREAS, Through the simple step of registering to be an |
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organ donor, everyone has the power to potentially give children |
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like Madeline hope for a longer, healthier life, and the Smith |
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family and their supporters may take pride in the important impact |
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that their efforts have made; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby extend warmest best wishes to Madeline Smith and |
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her family and commend the work of Team Maddie to further the cause |
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of organ donation; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Madeline and her family as an expression of high regard |
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by the Texas House of Representatives. |