1Designating June 17, 2014, as "Children's Sickle Cell Advocacy
2Day" in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, Each year in the United States, approximately 2,000
4infants are born with sickle cell disease; and

5WHEREAS, Sickle cell disease is a blood disorder that affects
6red blood cells, which become sickle-shaped, making it difficult
7for these cells to pass through small blood vessels; and

8WHEREAS, Sickle cell disease occurs when a child inherits two
9sickle hemoglobin genes, one from each parent; and

10WHEREAS, Sickle cell disease is not contagious and there is
11no known cure for sickle cell disease; and

12WHEREAS, The complications from this serious disease are
13usually fatal, so the primary goal of health care providers is
14to prevent further complications; and

15WHEREAS, Children with sickle cell disease require ongoing

1medical attention and typically require hospitalization on a
2periodic basis; and

3WHEREAS, Hospitalizations and home recovery result in a
4school-age child missing an average of one month of school per
5year, which creates special challenges for the children, their
6parents, educators and social workers; and

7WHEREAS, If hospitalization occurs, this can be a difficult
8time for children and their families, often causing economic
9hardship that requires financial support for the families; and

10WHEREAS, In the United States, sickle cell disease is most
11common in African Americans, occurring in 1 in every 500 births
12in this ethnic group, while also occurring in 1 in every 36,000
13Hispanic-American births; and

14WHEREAS, By 2050, it is estimated that more than 400,000
15babies will be born with sickle cell disease around the world,
16as the incidence of this hereditary blood disorder is
17increasing; therefore be it

18RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate June
1917, 2014, as "Children's Sickle Cell Advocacy Day" in
20Pennsylvania; and be it further

21RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
22Ms. Andrea Williams, Executive Director, Children's Sickle Cell
23Foundation, Inc., Gove Business Center, 226 Paul Street, Suite
24105, Pittsburgh, PA 15211.