LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim August 2011 as Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Month in the State
of New York

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body takes great pride in recognizing official
months established to increase awareness of serious illnesses that
affect the lives of many New Yorkers; and
WHEREAS, Crohn's and a related disease, ulcerative colitis, are the
two main disease categories that belong to a larger group of illnesses
called inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); and
WHEREAS, The disease is named after Dr. Burrill B. Crohn, who in 1932,
along with two of his colleagues, Dr. Leon Ginzburg and Dr. Gordon D.
Oppenheimer, published a landmark paper describing the features of what
is known today as Crohn's disease; and
WHEREAS, Because the symptoms of these two illnesses are so similar,
it is sometimes difficult to establish the diagnosis definitively; in
fact, approximately 10 percent of colitis cases are unable to be
pinpointed as either ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease and are
called indeterminate colitis; and
WHEREAS, Both illnesses do have one strong feature in common which is
that they are both marked by an abnormal response by the body's immune
system; the immune system is composed of various cells and proteins;
normally, these protect the body from infection, but in people with
Crohn's disease, the immune system reacts inappropriately; after mistak-
ing food, bacteria, and other materials in the intestine for foreign or
invading substances, it launches an attack on the person's body; and
WHEREAS, In the process, the body sends white blood cells into the
lining of the intestines, where they produce chronic inflammation; and
WHEREAS, These cells then generate harmful products that ultimately
lead to ulcerations and bowel injury; when this happens, the patient
experiences the symptoms of IBD; and
WHEREAS, This chronic disorder causes inflammation of the digestive or
gastrointestinal (GI) tract, involving any area of the GI tract from the
mouth to the anus, but most commonly affecting the small intestine
and/or colon; and
WHEREAS, The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) was
co-founded by William and Shelby Modell, who lost their son, Michael, to
Crohn's disease; and
WHEREAS, The mission of CCFA is to cure and prevent Crohn's disease
and ulcerative colitis through research, as well as to improve the qual-
ity of life of children and adults affected by these digestive diseases
through education and support; and
WHEREAS, Many New Yorkers have been diagnosed with this debilitating
disease; this Legislative Body recognizes the vital importance of CCFA
in providing excellence in care through awareness, education and treat-
ment, and its evident commitment to this mission; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim August 2011 as Crohn's
and Colitis Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York, and the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America.