Declare Bleeding Disorders Month

Senate Resolution No. 3036 BY: Senator KENNEDY MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 2020, as Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month in the State of New York WHEREAS, The State of New York takes great pride in recognizing serious disorders by proclaiming official months to increase awareness of such concerns, which affect thousands of New Yorkers; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 2020, as Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month; and WHEREAS, Bleeding disorders encompass a variety of genetic conditions including hemophilia, Von Willebrand disease, platelet disorders, and non-malignant blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia; these conditions cause an affected person's blood to clot slower than normal, leading to prolonged bleeding which can result from trauma, medical procedures, child birth, or occur spontaneously; and WHEREAS, Symptoms vary, and may include pain, disabling joint/muscle damage, organ failure and in severe cases death; while there is treatment for these conditions, there is no cure; and WHEREAS, Bleeding disorders may affect more than one in 100 New Yorkers, both male and female; while many patients have a family history of bleeding disorders, one in three do not; and WHEREAS, The history of bleeding disorders is one of tragedy and hope; before 1965 there was no treatment for people with bleeding disorders; those with serious symptoms often became physically disabled and often had a life expectancy of 40 years; and WHEREAS, In the 1980s, treatment finally became available for those suffering with these disorders; unfortunately, the treatments gave rise to the scourge of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C from contaminated blood; as a result, over 10,000 people with bleeding disorders died, and those who survived lived profoundly altered lives; and WHEREAS, Today, advances in medical research and growing access to care offer people with bleeding disorders the opportunity to lead full, productive lives to the same age as unaffected people; however, the key to realizing this bright future is early diagnosis, proper treatment, and continuing access to the different medications and care services patients need to stay healthy as they grow and age; and WHEREAS, It is appropriate to recognize March as Bleeding Disorders Month in order to foster public awareness and understanding of these bleeding disorders and to encourage early detection and prompt treatment; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 2020, as Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month 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.