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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING THE HULL FAMILY FOR RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT MYALGIC ENCEPHALOMYELITIS / CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME
WHEREAS, Gabriel Hull, a scholarship student at the University of Chicago, a volunteer, friend, son, and resident of Cook County has been living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) for 7 years. Medical challenges have caused him to be bedbound, which has impaired daily functioning and quality of life; and
WHEREAS, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a disabling neuroimmune disease that affects more than 3.3 Million Americans and has been recognized by the National Academy of Medicine and Science as a “serious, chronic, complex, and multisystem disease that frequently and dramatically limits the activities of affected patients,”; and
WHEREAS, David Hull and Rebecca Groble, Gabriel’s parents, are full-time caretakers and advocates, who are diligently working to gain recognition and support for ME/CFS, as there are currently no ME/CFS clinicians in Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Gabriel Hull and his family hope to create awareness in order to help other families who experience ME/CFS, that are facing emotional, financial, and logistical hardships as they navigate care needs in a system that often fails to recognize the severity of this disease; and
WHEREAS, the national organization, Solve M.E. works to accelerate research, educate providers, and advocate for public policy change to improve the lives of people with ME/CFS, Long COVID, and other associated chronic conditions; and
WHEREAS, the county government has an important role to play in raising public awareness, supporting families through access to information and services, and reducing stigma by affirming the lived experiences of residents affected by chronic and disabling illnesses; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners and Cook County Commissioner Josina Morita, on behalf of the residents of Cook County hereby publicly recognize the sacrifice and substantial efforts of Gabriel Hull and his family to help the residents of Cook County and beyond, fighting ME/CFS; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a formal copy of this resolution be presented to Gabriel Hull and his family in appreciation of their tireless efforts to create awareness and help fight MS/CFS.
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