House Concurrent Resolution 37

(As Adopted by House and Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO DESIGNATE MAY 17, 2018, AS "DIFFUSE INTRINSIC PONTINE GLIOMA (DIPG) AWARENESS DAY" IN MISSISSIPPI.

WHEREAS, in September 2016, the Centers for Disease Control announced that brain tumors have become the leading cause of childhood cancer death, surpassing leukemia; and

WHEREAS, of malignant brain tumors, Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) is the second most common among children, and is the leading cause of childhood mortality due to brain tumors, with its highly aggressive nature and difficulty to treat, given its critical location at the base of the brain; and

WHEREAS, arising from the brain's glial tissue, which consists of cells that support and protect the brain's neurons, these tumors are found in an area of the brainstem called the pons, which controls many of the body's most vital functions, such as breathing, blood pressure and heart rate; and

WHEREAS, children with DIPG often exhibit signs of facial weakness, abnormal eye movement, loss of muscle control, difficulty walking, imbalanced limb movement, trouble chewing or swallowing, hearing issues, insomnia, loss of bladder or bowel control, trouble breathing, nausea and headaches; and

WHEREAS, while these children lose control of most of their bodily functions, they still retain the ability to comprehend their situation; and

WHEREAS, with causes of development unknown, these tumors are highly aggressive and grow rapidly with a sudden appearance of symptoms that are often misdiagnosed, however current research suggests that these tumors are not the result of environmental factors or heredity, which poses a greater dilemma of finding a viable solution for a cure; and

WHEREAS, approximately 300 children are diagnosed with DIPG each year, usually between the ages of five and nine; and

WHEREAS, at this time, a DIPG diagnosis is tantamount to a death sentence. This cancer has a zero percent survival rate, as no child who has ever been diagnosed with DIPG has survived long after diagnosis; and

WHEREAS, most children diagnosed with DIPG survive for only nine months after diagnosis, ultimately failing to breathe or their hearts stop beating; and

WHEREAS, during the month of May, there is a national focus on childhood cancer and childhood brain tumors through the work of families and other foundations, and Mississippi is most pleased to help increase public awareness of this deadly childhood cancer and commends the DIPG Foundation for its efforts to promote additional funding for research and education programs to help save lives of children diagnosed with DIPG; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to promote health and wellness for all citizens of this state, and as such, deems it an imperatively incumbent task to raise awareness about the devastating childhood cancer, DIPG, that has tragic consequences for the young lives of which it seizes hold:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby designate May 17, 2018, as "Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) Awareness Day" in Mississippi, seeking both to recognize those lives that have been touched by DIPG and to bring attention to the disease so that more may be done to care for these children and to find a cure, and encourage observance by all citizens.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the University Medical Center, the Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital and the State Department of Health for public dissemination, and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.