ENROLLED
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 137
BY REPRESENTATIVE JAMES
A RESOLUTION
To recognize May 1 through 10, 2019, as Cri du Chat Awareness Week.
WHEREAS, each year, approximately fifty to sixty children are born with 5p- (five
p minus) syndrome in the United States, a syndrome that is otherwise known as cat cry
syndrome or cri du chat syndrome; and
WHEREAS, the syndrome is sometimes called 5p- syndrome because people who
are diagnosed with it are missing a portion of chromosome number five, a portion that is
called 5p by geneticists; and
WHEREAS, at birth, some common characteristics of cri du chat syndrome are a
high pitched cry, low birth weight, poor muscle tone, microcephaly, and other potential
medical complications; and
WHEREAS, children born with this rare genetic defect will most likely require
ongoing support from a team of parents, therapists, and medical and educational
professionals to help them to achieve their maximum potential; and
WHEREAS, there are many families in Louisiana that include a child with cri du
chat syndrome, and there are more than one thousand such families in the country; and
WHEREAS, individuals with cri du chat syndrome deserve to be recognized for what
they can do rather than for what they cannot do; and
WHEREAS, because cri du chat syndrome is not well-known, it is necessary to raise
awareness about the effects of this syndrome on children and their families; and
WHEREAS, one of the goals of Cri du Chat Awareness Week is to provide people
with accurate information about cri du chat syndrome, especially families who have a child
that has been diagnosed with this syndrome.
Page 1 of 2 HR NO. 137 ENROLLED
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby recognize May 1 through 10, 2019, as Cri du Chat
Awareness Week and does hereby encourage all citizens of the great state of Louisiana to
raise awareness about cri du chat syndrome and to advocate for policies that assist persons
who are diagnosed with this syndrome and the families that care for them.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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