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Honoring and acknowledging Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) on its research towards a cure for Sickle Cell Anemia.
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WHEREAS, Sickle cell disease is the most common inherited disorder among African-Americans. Roughly, 1 in 12 African-Americans is a silent carrier of the disease and it affects 1 in 375 births. It is also common in those of Caribbean Ancestry. It has also been found in Latin America, the Mediterranean, the Middle East and India; and
WHEREAS, There are currently 100,000 individuals with sickle cell disease in the United States alone and many millions worldwide; and
WHEREAS, Sickle cell disease is caused by a mutation of the beta-globin gene which turns a normally soft, round red blood cell into a stiff, sickle-shaped one. These sickle cells tend to get stuck in and block small blood vessels, leading to debilitating pain crises. These blockages, which over time will damage body organs, can also cause fatal strokes and heart attacks. About 15% of children with sickle cell require frequent blood transfusions to prevent stroke. With few normal red blood cells to carry oxygen to the body, people with the disease are easily fatigued. This oxygen deprivation can also damage organs; and
WHEREAS, Living with sickle cell disease is a constant struggle and the burden on children is particularly heavy. In addition to living with extreme pain, affected children are prone to chronic infections, which can be life threatening; and
WHEREAS, It requires constant vigilance to keep children with sickle cell disease healthy. Often these children live with the difficult knowledge that their lives may be cut short: although research efforts are underway to develop new treatments that we hope will extend their lives significantly, the disease is often fatal in one's 40s; and
WHEREAS, CHOP makes it a priority to push forward with sickle cell research and enhance clinical care for those deserving children;
WHEREAS, With more than 1000 families under its care, the comprehensive sickle cell center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is one of the largest, more renowned centers for children and adolescents living with sickle cell anemia; and
WHEREAS, The center is staffed by a multidisciplinary team of pediatric hematologist, hematology nurse-specialists, and social workers. Each patient is assigned a physician who managed his or her outpatient care. Patient and family education is incorporated into all clinic visits as part of comprehensive care; and
WHEREAS, Their patients have access to pediatric general surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, ophthalmologists, neurologists and pulmonologists with expertise in sickle cell disease; and
WHEREAS, The Children Hospital of Philadelphia is making progress with finding a cure for the sickle cell disease with Dr. Flake spending nearly 30 years developing a pioneering procedure that promises to be an actual cure for all children who inherit the genes that cause sickle cell disease; and now therefore be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY PHILADELPHIA, Honors and recognizes the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia on its research towards a cure for sickle cell anemia.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution shall be presented to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
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