x-sender: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com x-receiver: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com Received: from mail pickup service by IQ12 with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Wed, 11 Mar 2015 12:30:23 -0400 thread-index: AdBcGKwf/ftph4qfQqy74BFVUDjYgA== Thread-Topic: Making May 2015 Pediatric Stroke Awareness Month for the State of SC From: To: Subject: Making May 2015 Pediatric Stroke Awareness Month for the State of SC Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2015 12:30:23 -0400 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Microsoft CDO for Windows 2000 Content-Class: urn:content-classes:message Importance: normal Priority: normal X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.1.7601.17609 X-OriginalArrivalTime: 11 Mar 2015 16:30:23.0263 (UTC) FILETIME=[AC409AF0:01D05C18] CUSTOM Mrs Marcela C. Lomas I AM JAYDEN FOUNDATION 6012 Pantherwood Dr. Myrtle Beach SC 29579 Mclomas@aol.com 8438550262 PROC Making May 2015 Pediatric Stroke Awareness Month for the State of SC Dear Honorable Ms. Nikki R. Haley : I am writing to ask you to issue a proclamation declaring the month of May 2015 as Pediatric Stroke Awareness Month. This proclamation is important to many families such as my own. I am the parent of a pediatric stroke survivor. My child, Jayden Sebastian Lomas, who is 5 years old, had a stroke at birth. I used to think that stroke occurred only in adults, but now I know firsthand that stroke can occur in infancy, childhood and even prior to birth. Stroke is seen in 1 out of 2700 newborns, with over half of these children having serious life-long neurological disabilities. It is our hope to increase Pediatric Stroke awareness in South Carolina through this proclamation. Established 10 years ago and supported by the I AM JAYDEN Foundation, a non-profit organization helping families affected by pediatric stroke, this month is designed to increase awareness of pediatric stroke among the public, media, government, and medical communities. The awareness day's message to our state is clear: Stroke DOES occur in infants, children and even unborn babies just as it did with my child. It is an important issue that is largely unrecognized. Stroke in the newborn period may be as common as it is in older people. When a baby has a stroke, it has life-long implications. Despite this, there has been little research and funding for the development of treatment studies in children. There is a definite need for increased medical research into the cause, treatment, and prevention of stroke in infants, children and unborn babies. I have enclosed a sample proclamation and a fact sheet containing more information about pediatric stroke. Thank you in advance for your consideration and approval of our request. The events held during Pediatric Stroke Awareness Month, supported by your proclamation, will go far in recognizing and bettering the lives of families who are touched by pediatric stroke. Thank you for your support. Sincerely, Marcela C. Lomas 6012 Pantherwood Drive Myrtle Beach, SC 29579 mclomas@aol.com 843.855.0262 PROCLAMATION WHEREAS, stroke occurs at a rate of 1 in 2700 live births each year and in 12 in 100,000 children per year, with stroke being the sixth leading cause of death in children; and WHEREAS between 50 and 85 percent of infants and children who have a Pediatric Stroke will have serious, permanent neurological disabilities, including paralysis, seizures, speech and vision problems, attention, learning and behavioral difficulties, and may require ongoing physical therapy and surgeries; and WHEREAS the life-long health concerns and treatments resulting from Pediatric Stroke result in a heavy financial and emotional toll on the child, the family, and society; and WHEREAS very little is known about the cause, treatment and prevention of Pediatric Stroke; Pediatric Stroke risk factors, symptoms, prevention efforts, and treatment are often different in children than in adults; only through medical research can effective treatment and prevention strategies for Pediatric Stroke be identified and developed; and WHEREAS an early diagnosis and commencement of treatment of Pediatric Stroke greatly improves chances of recovery and prevention of recurrence; now THEREFORE, I Nikki R. Haley Governor of the State of South Carolina, do hereby officially proclaim May 2015 as: PEDIATRIC STROKE AWARENESS MONTH In the State of South Carolina. I urge all citizens to join me in supporting the efforts, programs, services, and advocacy the Children's Hemiplegia and Stroke Association & the " I AM JAYDEN" Foundation provides as they strive to enhance public awareness of Pediatric Stroke.