LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to declare
December 4, 2013, as Pallister-Killian Syndrome 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 health-related
issues 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 memorial-
ize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to declare December 4, 2013, as Pallister-
Killian Syndrome Day in the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Pallister-Killian Syndrome (PKS) is an extremely rare chromo-
somal disorder occurring for no apparent reason; it is clinically a
mosaic tetrasomy of 12p which means people with PKS have 4 copies of the
short arm of chromosome 12 rather than the normal 2 in some, but not
all, of their cells; and
WHEREAS, Selecting December 4th as the day of recognition for PKS is
derived from chromosome 12, 4 copies of the short arm; and
WHEREAS, Children born with this syndrome suffer from low muscle tone,
global developmental delay, seizures beginning in infancy, lack of
speech development, and intellectual disability; they may also have
hearing and vision loss; and
WHEREAS, There are fewer than 300 known cases of PKS worldwide; howev-
er, medical experts believe the actual incidence is higher and that
there remain undiagnosed cases; and
WHEREAS, Jay Wood is a kindergarten student at Peru Central School who
has been diagnosed with PKS; Jay works extremely hard every day to
complete tasks other children his age take for granted; he can now sit
momentarily unassisted, is learning to feed himself and greets his
classmates with a "hi"; he loves life, has a wonderful laugh, eats
anything chocolate and is one of SUNY Plattsburgh's biggest hockey fans;
most of all Jay is a loving son and brother to his sister, Emma; and
WHEREAS, Research, education and understanding of PKS will aid in the
early diagnosis of children and will benefit the families and individ-
uals facing the many challenges affected by the disease; and
WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of
this serious health issue, and more must be done to increase activity at
the local, State and national levels; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to declare December 4, 2013, as
Pallister-Killian Syndrome Day in the State of New York; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.