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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
PROCLAIMING MAY AS AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS AWARENESS MONTH IN COOK COUNTY
WHEREAS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells and pathways in the brain and spinal cord; and
WHEREAS, the initial symptom of ALS is weakness of the skeletal muscles, especially those of the extremities; and
WHEREAS, as ALS progresses, the patient experiences difficulty in swallowing, talking, and breathing; and
WHEREAS, ALS eventually causes muscles to atrophy, and the patient becomes a functional quadriplegic; and
WHEREAS, ALS does not affect a patient’s mental capacity, so the patent remains alert and aware of his or her loss of motor functions and the inevitable outcome of continued deterioration and death; and
WHEREAS, in many cases, particularly in the later stages, people with ALS need continuous, 24/7 care; and
WHEREAS, on average, patients diagnosed with ALS survive only two to five years; and
WHEREAS, ALS has no known cause, means of prevention, or cure; and
WHEREAS, while ALS occurs throughout the world with no racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic boundaries, research indicates that military veterans are approximately twice as likely to develop ALS compared to those who have not served in the military; and
WHEREAS, a national ALS patient registry, administered by the Centers for Disease Control, is currently identifying cases of ALS in the United States and may become the single largest ALS research project ever created; and
WHEREAS, in May, members of the ALS community from across the country will gather in Washington, D.C. to raise awareness of the disease and advocate before their elected officials in the halls of Congress. It is important that their voices in Washington be echoed in local communities across the country.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby proclaim the month of May as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month in Cook County; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board urges Congress to enact legislation to provide additional funding for research in order to find a treatment and eventually a cure for ALS.
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