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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Cystic fibrosis, commonly referred to as CF, is a |
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genetic disorder that affects approximately 30,000 children and |
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adults in the United States, more than 1,700 of whom live in this |
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state; and |
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WHEREAS, CF is a life-threatening disease that impairs the |
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function of the body's respiratory and digestive systems; it occurs |
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in approximately 1 out of every 3,500 live births in the United |
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States, with approximately 1,000 new cases diagnosed every year; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, While CF remains a serious health concern around the |
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globe, there have been significant gains in treatment; today, the |
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median predicted survival age for persons with the disease is 41 |
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years, a dramatic improvement since the 1950s, when children with |
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CF rarely lived to attend elementary school; as a result of the |
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medical advances, the number of adults living with the disease has |
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steadily grown; and |
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WHEREAS, Early diagnosis and treatment of CF can greatly |
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enhance the quality of life and longevity of patients; in addition |
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to employing a daily regimen of home care, patients can benefit from |
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antibiotics and other innovative treatments that can help |
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considerably in managing their symptoms; moreover, Texas is home to |
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11 world-class centers that specialize in the diagnosis of CF and |
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the care of persons living with the disease; and |
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WHEREAS, Public awareness is crucial to enabling more |
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patients with CF to live longer, healthier lives, and Cystic |
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Fibrosis Awareness Month in May provides an opportune time to |
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promote education about the disease and to encourage support for |
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additional research; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize May 2017 as Cystic Fibrosis Awareness |
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Month and urge Texans to learn more about CF and to get involved in |
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the effort to find a cure for this devastating disease. |