2015 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 3
BY SENATOR MILLS
A RESOLUTION
To commend Tara MacInnes for her dedicated works to promote Moyamoya disease and to
recognize Wednesday, May 6, 2015, as Moyamoya Disease Awareness Day in
Louisiana.
WHEREAS, Tara MacInnes, a graduate student at Southeastern Louisiana University
pursuing a Master of Science in Counseling and a Moyamoya patient, has worked tirelessly
since her diagnosis at the age of seventeen in 2004 to promote awareness of Moyamoya
disease and help other patients in their journey; and
WHEREAS, Tara MacInnes has connected patients in over thirty countries, offering
them, their family members, friends, and supporters an opportunity to celebrate life and
health as they share stories to support and encourage one another recognizing the common
thread, Moyamoya disease, that has brought them all together; and
WHEREAS, Tara MacInnes has unofficially declared May 6 as World Moyamoya
Day and is working tirelessly to have that date become the official worldwide day to
promote awareness; and
WHEREAS, Moyamoya disease is a rare disorder of the cerebrovascular system that
causes arteries at the base of the brain to narrow, resulting in blocked blood flow to the
brain; and
WHEREAS, to compensate for the blockage, the body forms a tangle of tiny blood
vessels that resemble a "puff of smoke"; and
WHEREAS, the term Moyamoya means "puff of smoke" in Japanese, which is how
the tangle appeared to Japanese doctors who first described the disorder in the 1960s; and
WHEREAS, Moyamoya may lead to transient ischemic attacks (TIA, commonly
referred to as "mini strokes") in both children and adults, followed by muscular weakness
or paralysis on one side of the body or seizures; and
WHEREAS, other symptoms of the disorder include vision problems, disturbed
consciousness, reduced cognitive ability, distorted functioning of senses, involuntary
movements, and aphasia, a speech problem that impairs language comprehension; and
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WHEREAS, because the arteries continue to narrow, surgery is needed to prevent
mental decline and recurrent strokes.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend Tara MacInnes for her efforts in promoting Moyamoya Disease
Awareness and does hereby designate Wednesday, May 6, 2015, as Moyamoya Disease
Awareness Day in Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to Tara
MacInnes.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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