Senate Resolution No. 259

BY: Senator RIVERA

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
December 1-7, 2019, as Crohn's and Colitis Awareness
Week in the State of New York

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body takes great pride in recognizing
official months established to increase awareness of serious illnesses
that affect the lives of many New Yorkers; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim December 1-7, 2019, as Crohn's and
Colitis Awareness Week in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Week; and

WHEREAS, Crohn's and a related disease, ulcerative colitis, are the
two main disease categories that belong to a larger group of illnesses
called inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); and

WHEREAS, The disease is named after Dr. Burrill B. Crohn, who in
1932, along with two of his colleagues, Dr. Leon Ginzburg and Dr. Gordon
D. Oppenheimer, published a landmark paper describing the features of
what is known today as Crohn's disease; and

WHEREAS, 1 in 350 people develop Crohn's disease or ulcerative
colitis; according to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America
(CCFA), 1.6 million Americans are estimated to be affected by any form
of IBD; and

WHEREAS, Crohn's disease may affect as many as 780,000 Americans;
men and women are equally likely to be affected, and while the disease
can occur at any age, Crohn's is more prevalent among adolescents and
young adults between the ages of 15 and 35; and

WHEREAS, Because the symptoms of these two illnesses are so similar,
it is sometimes difficult to establish the diagnosis definitively; in
fact, approximately 10 percent of colitis cases are unable to be
pinpointed as either ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease and are
called indeterminate colitis; and

WHEREAS, Both illnesses do have one strong feature in common which
is they are both marked by an abnormal response by the body's immune
system; in people with Crohn's disease, the immune system mistakes food,
bacteria, and other materials in the intestine for foreign or invading
substances, and launches an attack on the person's body; and

WHEREAS, In the process, the body sends white blood cells into the
lining of the intestines, where they produce chronic inflammation; and

WHEREAS, These cells then generate harmful products that ultimately
lead to ulcerations and bowel injury; when this happens, the patient
experiences the symptoms of IBD; and

WHEREAS, The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) was
co-founded by William and Shelby Modell, who lost their son, Michael, to
Crohn's disease; and

WHEREAS, The mission of CCFA is to cure and prevent Crohn's disease
and ulcerative colitis through research, as well as to improve the
quality of life of children and adults affected by these digestive
diseases through education and support; and

WHEREAS, Many New Yorkers have been diagnosed with this debilitating
disease; this Legislative Body recognizes the vital importance of CCFA
in providing excellence in care through awareness, education and
treatment, and its evident commitment to this mission; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater awareness of this
serious health condition, 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 proclaim December 1-7, 2019, as
Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Week 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.