P1 1WHEREAS, Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) occurs
2when the diaphragm fails to fully form, allowing abdominal organs
3to migrate into the chest cavity and preventing lung growth; and
4WHEREAS, The federal Centers for Disease Control and
5Prevention recognizes CDH as a birth defect; and
6WHEREAS, The majority of CDH patients suffer from
7underdeveloped lungs or poor pulmonary function; and
8WHEREAS, Babies born with CDH endure extended hospital
9stays in intensive care with multiple surgeries; and
10WHEREAS, CDH patients often endure long-term
11complications, such as pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary
12hypoplasia, asthma, gastrointestinal reflex, feeding disorders, and
13developmental delays; and
14WHEREAS, CDH survivors sometimes endure long-term
15mechanical ventilation dependency, skeletal malformations,
16supplemental oxygen dependency, enteral and parenteral nutrition,
17and hypoxic brain injury; and
18WHEREAS, CDH is treated through mechanical ventilation, a
19heart and lung bypass, which is commonly known as extracorporeal
20membrane oxygenation (ECMO), machines, and surgical repair;
21and
22WHEREAS, Surgical repair is often not a permanent solution
23for CDH and can lead to reherniation and require additional
24surgery; and
P2 1WHEREAS, CDH is diagnosed in utero in less than 50 percent
2of cases; and
3WHEREAS, Infants born with CDH have a high mortality rate,
4averaging 50 percent, regardless of the level of severity of the
5defect; and
6WHEREAS, CDH has a rate of occurrence of 1 in every 2,500
7live births worldwide; and
8WHEREAS, CDH affects approximately 1,600 babies each year
9in the United States; and
10WHEREAS, CDH has affected more than 700,000 babies
11worldwide since 2000; and
12WHEREAS, CDH does not discriminate based on race, gender,
13or socioeconomic status; and
14WHEREAS, The cause of CDH is unknown; now, therefore,
15be it
16Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the Senate
17declares the month of April 2015 as California Congenital
18Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Month, and calls upon all
19Californians to observe the month of April by participating in
20appropriate activities and programs; and be it further
21Resolved, That the Senate encourages that steps should be taken
22to: (1) raise awareness of and increase public knowledge about
23CDH; (2) inform all Californians about the dangers of CDH,
24especially those groups that may be disproportionately affected
25by CDH or that have lower survival rates; (3) disseminate
26information on the importance of quality neonatal care of CDH
27patients; (4) promote quality prenatal care and ultrasounds to detect
28CDH in utero; and (5) support research funding of CDH to improve
29screening and treatment for CDH, discover the causes of CDH,
30and develop a cure for CDH; and be it further
31Resolved, That the Senate encourages residents, interest groups,
32and affected individuals to take an active role in the fight against
33this devastating birth defect; and be it further
34Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate provide copies of
35this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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