Senate Resolution No. 5112

BY: Senator PARKER

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
June 19, 2018, as Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Day
in the State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official days that are set aside to increase awareness of serious
illnesses 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, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 19, 2018, as
Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Day in the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Sickle cell disease is a chronic hereditary blood disorder
that can cause severe pain and result in damage to the brain and other
vital organs like the kidneys, liver, spleen and heart; and

WHEREAS, People who have the disease but do not experience the
symptoms are said to have the sickle cell trait; currently, an estimated
100,000 Americans are living with the disease; and

WHEREAS, Frequent pain episodes can result in necrosis of the hips,
knees, ankle and shoulder; there can be entrapment of blood in the
spleen, severe anemia, acute lung complications (acute chest syndrome),
priapism in males, and difficult pregnancy for women of child bearing
age; and

WHEREAS, These life-threatening complications can develop rapidly,
including infections of the blood (sepsis), meningitis and stroke;
stroke can be either silent (no overt symptoms) or clinical (with
symptoms) and can affect children as young as 18 months; and

WHEREAS, Up to 40% of children will have had either a silent or
clinical stroke by the age of 18 and this impacts their ability to learn
and/or hold a job; and

WHEREAS, Sickle cell disease is most common in Africans and
African-Americans, but the disease can also be found in other
demographics, primarily in South and Central America, the Caribbean,
Mediterranean countries and India; approximately 1 in 12
African-Americans are diagnosed with the trait; and

WHEREAS, Sickle cell disease affects approximately 100,000 Americans
and 10% of these patients reside in New York State, and 80% of those
patients live in the New York City area; and

WHEREAS, Sickle cell disease is the most costly per patient to New
York State Medicaid, costing $15,000/year/patient; and

WHEREAS, The only known cure for sickle cell disease is through a
transplant of bone marrow or stem cells; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 19, 2018, as
Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Day 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.