LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim May 2012, as Pediatric Stroke Awareness Month in the State of
New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official
months that are set aside to increase awareness of serious health issues
that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; 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 May 2012, as Pediatric Stroke
Awareness Month in the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Perinatal, neonatal, infant and childhood stroke are some of
the most common causes of hemiplegia or hemiparesis in children; and
WHEREAS, Strokes occur at the highest rate in infants who are younger
than one month old at the rate of about 1 in 2800 live births; for chil-
dren 1 to 18 years old, strokes occur in 11 out of 100,000 children;
strokes are fatal in 20 to 40 percent of children; and
WHEREAS, More than 100 risk factors for stroke in newborns and chil-
dren have been identified; however, in a third of newborns and a tenth
of children, no cause is ever found; and
WHEREAS, The most common underlying risk factors in children are:
congenital or acquired heart disease; sickle cell disease; hematological
disorders; metabolic disorders; vascular disorders; and infection,
including chicken pox; and
WHEREAS, Infant and childhood stroke research is a highly neglected
area, with both professionals and the public lacking awareness that
children have strokes, let alone what the potential consequences are;
and
WHEREAS, The life-long physical, emotional, and social effects of
stroke in an infant impact the individual and society for decades; this
continues throughout later childhood and the adult years, in contrast to
relatively shorter durations of impact for adult stroke survivors; and
WHEREAS, Pediatric stroke survivors may develop cerebral palsy,
epilepsy, and have cognitive or behavioral problems; and
WHEREAS, Children who have had a stroke often receive occupational and
physical therapies to help them learn functional skills of daily living
and increase movement if they're experiencing motor difficulties; and
WHEREAS, Further research is needed in perinatal and childhood stroke
to identify risk factors and to determine the best treatment and
prevention; and
WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of
this serious health issue, and more must be done to increase activity at
the local, State and national levels to support the patients as well as
their families; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 2012, as Pediatric
Stroke Awareness Month in the State of New York; 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.