LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim February 14, 2012, as A Day for Hearts: Congenital Heart Defect
Awareness Day in the State of New York

WHEREAS, Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) are those existing at birth; and
WHEREAS, With familiarity of the disorder, more diagnoses are being
made of what was not long ago thought to be an extremely rare disorder
and not repairable; and
WHEREAS, CHD is among the most common birth defects and is the leading
cause of defect-related deaths; many children born with CHDs continue to
die due to the severity of the defect, the heart defect not being
detected in time, a lack of donor hearts, or failure of the medical
intervention used; and
WHEREAS, The New York State Department of Health Congenital Malforma-
tions Report presents rates of congenital malformations occuring among
the 242,365 children who were born alive to New York residents in 2006;
the children reported with a major congenital malformation represent 5.1
percent of live births; and
WHEREAS, In addition, the report states that 3,934 children were born
with cardiovascular defects, which is roughly 32 percent of all defects;
and
WHEREAS, More than 25,000 infants, one of every 125-150, are born each
year with heart defects in the United States; and
WHEREAS, CHD is being researched by numerous professionals (at least
35 defects are now recognized) in order to more accurately describe its
origin, physical signs and symptoms and surgical options; and
WHEREAS, Citizens should be made more aware of CHD so that early diag-
nosis and intervention becomes a top priority; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim February 14, 2012, as A
Day for Hearts: Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day 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.