LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor David A. Paterson to
proclaim May 10-16, 2010, as Fibromyalgia Awareness Week in the State of
New York

WHEREAS, An estimated 10 million people in the United States, six to
eight percent of the population, and millions of people worldwide have
been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a disease for which there is no known
cause or cure; and
WHEREAS, A chronic disorder that increases at alarming rates, fibro-
myalgia causes fatigue and debilitating pain in women, men, and children
of all ethnicities; and
WHEREAS, Patients with fibromyalgia often have to learn to live with
widespread pain throughout their bodies, extreme fatigue, sleep disor-
ders, stiffness and weakness, migraine headaches, numbness and tingling
and impairment of memory and concentration; and
WHEREAS, It often takes an average of five years to receive a diagno-
sis of fibromyalgia, and medical professionals frequently are inade-
quately educated on the diagnosis and treatment of fibromyalgia; and
WHEREAS, Increased awareness and expanded knowledge of the realities
of life with fibromyalgia will allow the community at large to better
support people who struggle with the challenges of this chronic pain
disorder; and
WHEREAS, A nonprofit charitable organization and the publisher of
FIBROMYALGIA AWARE, the first and only consumer magazine for fibromyal-
gia, the National Fibromyalgia Association has joined together with
other groups around the country, including the International Institute
For Human Empowerment based in New York State, to promote fibromyalgia
awareness and support, including improved education, diagnosis, research
and treatments; and
WHEREAS, The International Institute For Human Empowerment is the
sponsor of various fibromyalgia awareness events, as well as, the Select
Empowerment Seminar report: "Fibromyalgia: Awareness, Advocacy, and
Action," encouraging the medical community patients, employers, govern-
ment health and human rights agencies, educators, and caregivers, to
work together to support and improve the lives fibromyalgia patients;
and
WHEREAS, In addition, the National Fibromyalgia Association is urging
fibromyalgia patients and their supporters, healthcare providers and the
general public to demonstrate their caring by sharing the road patients
walk, the facts about fibromyalgia, and evergrowing awareness about the
etiology of this disorder and potential treatments; and
WHEREAS, The community's focus on fibromyalgia and its impact on
patients' lives will help guarantee hope for a better future for people
with fibromyalgia; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body recognizes the needs of those chron-
ically ill people who suffer from fibromyalgia and urge all of our citi-
zens to support the search for a cure and assist those individuals and
families who deal with this devastating disorder on a daily basis; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor David A. Paterson to proclaim May 10-16, 2010, as
Fibromyalgia Awareness Week in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable David A. Paterson, Governor of the State of New
York, and to the National Fibromyalgia Association.