LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim September 16-22, 2012, as Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week
in the State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official
weeks that are set aside to increase awareness of serious issues that
affect the lives of citizens of the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to memori-
alize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim September 16-22, 2012, as
Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week in the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Mitochondria are the power plants in every cell of a person's
body and create more than 90% of the energy needed by the body to
sustain life and support growth; and
WHEREAS, Mitochondria may not function correctly due to genetic
defects, damage caused by drugs or damage caused by destructive mole-
cules called free radicals; and
WHEREAS, When mitochondria fail, cell injury and cell death follow,
and if the process is repeated throughout the body, whole systems begin
to fail; and
WHEREAS, Mitochondrial diseases can cause isolated symptoms like
seizures, low blood counts, blindness, deafness, dementia, heart failure
and progressive muscle weakness, but more often they cause failure of
several organ systems in sequence; and
WHEREAS, Mitochondrial diseases can affect any person at any age; it
is estimated that more than one in 4,000 children born in the United
States each year will develop a mitochondrial disease by 10 years of
age; and
WHEREAS, Since mitochondrial disorders mimic other diseases, it is
believed that they are under diagnosed; and
WHEREAS, Currently, no cures or effective therapies exist but early
diagnosis can help patients and their families use proper medication and
nutritional supplements to improve the quality of life and even prolong
life; and
WHEREAS, It is appropriate that all citizens of the State of New York
be better informed about mitochondrial diseases and their impact; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim September 16-22, 2012,
as Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week in the State of New York, and to
urge all New Yorkers to observe the week with appropriate activities and
programs; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.