Senate Resolution No. 1095

BY: Senator KAPLAN

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        March 2019, as Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month in
        the State of New York

  WHEREAS,  The  State  of  New  York takes great pride in recognizing
serious disorders by proclaiming official months to  increase  awareness
of such concerns, which affect thousands of New Yorkers; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 2019, as  Bleeding  Disorders
Awareness  Month  in  the  State  of  New  York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month; and

  WHEREAS,  Bleeding  disorders  encompass  a   variety   of   genetic
conditions   including  hemophilia,  Von  Willebrand  disease,  platelet
disorders, and non-malignant blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia;
these conditions cause an affected person's blood to  clot  slower  than
normal,  leading  to  prolonged  bleeding  which can result from trauma,
medical procedures, child birth, or occur spontaneously; and

  WHEREAS, Symptoms vary, and may include pain, disabling joint/muscle
damage, organ  failure  and  in  severe  cases  death;  while  there  is
treatment for these conditions, there is no cure; and

  WHEREAS,  Bleeding  disorders  may  affect  more than one in 100 New
Yorkers, both male and female; while many patients have a family history
of bleeding disorders, one in three do not; and

  WHEREAS, The history of bleeding disorders is  one  of  tragedy  and
hope;  before  1965  there  was  no  treatment  for people with bleeding
disorders; those with serious symptoms often became physically  disabled
and often had a life expectancy of 40 years; and

  WHEREAS,  In the 1980s, treatment finally became available for those
suffering with these disorders; unfortunately, the treatments gave  rise
to the scourge of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C from contaminated blood; as a
result,  over  10,000 people with bleeding disorders died, and those who
survived lived profoundly altered lives; and

  WHEREAS, Today, advances in medical research and growing  access  to
care  offer people with bleeding disorders the opportunity to lead full,
productive lives to the same age as unaffected people; however, the  key
to  realizing  this  bright future is early diagnosis, proper treatment,
and continuing access to the different  medications  and  care  services
patients need to stay healthy as they grow and age; and

  WHEREAS,  It is appropriate to recognize March as Bleeding Disorders
Month in order to foster public awareness  and  understanding  of  these
bleeding   disorders   and  to  encourage  early  detection  and  prompt
treatment; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 2019, as Bleeding
Disorders Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the  State  of
New York.