| 2 | 3 | | |
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| 3 | 4 | | |
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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Smiles from Heaven, a nonprofit organization |
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| 6 | 7 | | founded in 2019, is making a positive impact in the lives of |
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| 7 | 8 | | children who are battling cancer; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Ray and Betsy Sanchez established Smiles from Heaven |
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| 9 | 10 | | in loving memory of their two-year-old daughter, Bella Serena |
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| 10 | 11 | | Sanchez, who passed away on April 9, 2019, following her fight with |
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| 11 | 12 | | leukemia; the organization is dedicated to promoting childhood |
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| 12 | 13 | | cancer awareness and to giving support, assistance, and hope to |
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| 13 | 14 | | children and families receiving treatment for pediatric cancer or |
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| 14 | 15 | | blood disorders; and |
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| 15 | 16 | | WHEREAS, Cancer is the leading cause of disease-related death |
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| 16 | 17 | | for children past infancy in the United States; each year, |
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| 17 | 18 | | approximately 175,000 families around the world hear the |
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| 18 | 19 | | devastating news that their child has cancer, but thanks to |
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| 19 | 20 | | improvements in treatment, more than 80 percent of patients with |
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| 20 | 21 | | pediatric cancer in the U.S. will become long-term survivors; and |
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| 21 | 22 | | WHEREAS, Since its inception, Smiles from Heaven has |
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| 22 | 23 | | advocated for childhood cancer awareness throughout the state and |
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| 23 | 24 | | nation in partnership with Be the Match, the South Texas Blood and |
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| 24 | 25 | | Tissue Center, and GenCure; it has cumulatively served over 1,000 |
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| 25 | 26 | | families, provided free travel totaling more than 1,000 miles to |
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| 26 | 27 | | specialized treatment centers, and donated some 21,000 miles worth |
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| 27 | 28 | | of fuel to help allay families' travel expenses; in addition to |
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| 28 | 29 | | offering financial assistance, the organization hosts support |
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| 29 | 30 | | groups and other programs to help parents and children cope with the |
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| 30 | 31 | | emotional stresses that accompany a cancer diagnosis; and |
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| 31 | 32 | | WHEREAS, Smiles from Heaven has been a source of |
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| 32 | 33 | | compassionate guidance to South Texas families going through a |
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| 33 | 34 | | difficult and uncertain journey, and it is a pleasure to recognize |
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| 34 | 35 | | this commendable organization and the inspiring work it has |
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| 35 | 36 | | accomplished; now, therefore, be it |
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| 36 | 37 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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| 37 | 38 | | Legislature hereby honor Smiles from Heaven for its service to and |
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| 38 | 39 | | advocacy in behalf of children living with cancer and extend to all |
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| 39 | 40 | | those affiliated with the organization sincere best wishes for the |
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| 40 | 41 | | future; and, be it further |
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| 41 | 42 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 42 | 43 | | prepared for the organization as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 43 | 44 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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