Rep. Corriveau offered the following resolution:

House Resolution No. 428.

A resolution declaring September 2008 as Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month in the state of Michigan.

            Whereas, One out of fifty people in the U.S. have a brain aneurysm. It is a silent killer, which often presents with no prior symptoms or whose symptoms are often ignored or misdiagnosed; and

            Whereas, Studies show that approximately six million people will develop an aneurysm which will not rupture; and

            Whereas, An un-ruptured brain aneurysm can lead to fatigue, short-term memory problems, speech problems, loss of balance and coordination, and changes in behavior; and

            Whereas, Annually, over 30,000 people suffer a ruptured aneurysm in the United States. Ten to fifteen percent of these patients will die before reaching the hospital; and

            Whereas, Over 50 percent of the people who suffer bleeding from an aneurysm die within the first month. Of those that survive, approximately another one-third will have residual major nervous system problems and are left with long-term memory problems; and

            Whereas, Various risks factors can contribute to the formation of a brain aneurysm and/or increase the risk of it rupturing. These risk factors include infection, tumors, traumatic head injury, drug use, smoking, hypertension, and a family history of brain aneurysms. Further, women are twice as likely to develop brain aneurysm as men; and

            Whereas, Various signs can help detect the likelihood of a brain aneurysm rupturing and often come on suddenly. These may include: stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, blurred or double vision, and seizures; and

            Whereas, Shirley Dudek Demmer, a Michigan mother, loving wife, daughter and friend, suddenly, and without warning, was struck down with a brain aneurism in mid-November of 2007; and

            Whereas, Bill Demmer, through a generous monetary gift in memory of his beloved wife, helped establish the Shirley Dudek Demmer Chair of Research Grant. The awarded grant will help fund critical research and support awareness initiatives designed to educate medical professionals to help prevent the common misdiagnosis of brain aneurysm; and

            Whereas, Through public awareness, we as a state and a nation seek to minimize the devastating effects of brain aneurysms among all United States citizens; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representative, That the members of this legislative body declare September 2008 as Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month in the state of Michigan; and be it further

            Resolved, That the state of Michigan hereby recognizes Bill Demmer and his family for their commitment and dedication in the effort to bring awareness and early detection of this life threatening condition. We hope that his wife's story may serve the community she held so dear; and be it further

            Resolved, That we commemorate the life of Shirley Dudek Demmer and others who have lost their lives to this sudden affliction.