WHEREAS, Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) occurs when the diaphragm fails to fully form, allowing abdominal organs to migrate into the chest cavity and preventing lung growth; and

WHEREAS, The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognizes CDH as a birth defect; and

WHEREAS, The majority of CDH patients suffer from underdeveloped lungs or poor pulmonary function; and

WHEREAS, Babies born with CDH endure extended hospital stays in intensive care with multiple surgeries; and

WHEREAS, CDH patients often endure long-term complications, including pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary hypoplasia, asthma, gastrointestinal reflux, feeding disorders, and developmental delays; and

WHEREAS, CDH survivors sometimes endure long-term mechanical ventilation dependency, skeletal malformations, supplemental oxygen dependency, enteral and parenteral nutrition, and hypoxic brain injury; and

WHEREAS, CDH is treated through mechanical ventilation, a heart and lung bypass, which is commonly known as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), machines, and surgical repair; and

WHEREAS, Surgical repair is often not a permanent solution for CDH and can lead to reherniation and require additional surgery; and

WHEREAS, CDH is diagnosed in utero in less than 50 percent of cases; and

WHEREAS, Infants born with CDH have a high mortality rate, ranging from 20 to 60 percent, depending on the severity of the defect and interventions available at delivery; and

WHEREAS, CDH has a rate of occurrence of 1 in every 2,570 live births worldwide; and

WHEREAS, CDH affects over 1,600 babies each year in the United States; and

WHEREAS, CDH has affected more than 700,000 babies worldwide since 2000; and

WHEREAS, CDH does not discriminate based on race, gender, or socioeconomic status; and

WHEREAS, The cause of CDH is unknown; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature designates April 2018 as California Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Month; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature encourages that steps should be taken to: (1) raise awareness of and increase public knowledge about CDH; (2) inform all Californians about the dangers of CDH, especially those groups that may be disproportionately affected by CDH or that have lower survival rates; (3) disseminate information on the importance of quality neonatal care of CDH patients; (4) promote quality prenatal care and the use of ultrasounds to detect CDH in utero; and (5) support research funding of CDH to improve screening and treatment for CDH, discover the causes of CDH, and develop a cure for CDH; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature calls upon the people of California, interest groups, and affected persons to promote awareness of CDH, take an active role in the fight against this devastating birth defect, and observe California Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Month with appropriate ceremonies and activities; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

SCR 130: California Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Month.

Senate Floor

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