Posted for Carole....because her post says it all....

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
A Proclamation
His Excellency Governor Deval L Patrick

Whereas Often a life-threatening birth defect, congenital diaphragmatic hernia is an opening in the diaphragm that allows the abdominal organs to push into the chest cavity, causing the limitation of lung growth; and

Whereas According to Children's Hospital, a congenital diaphragmatic hernia occurs in every one in 2,500 births in the United States; and

Whereas Proactive diagnosis and appropriate management of fetuses with congenital diaphragmatic hernia minimizes the incidence of emergency situations, dramatically improving survival rates; and

Whereas Today provides the opportunity for families whose lives have been affected to celebrate life and to remember loved ones lost, to honor dedicated health professionals and to meet others and know they are not alone; and

Whereas Through public awareness, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts seeks to minimize the devastating effects of congenital diaphragmatic hernia among all Massachusetts citizens,

Now, Therefore, I, Deval L Patrick, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim March 31, 2008, to be

Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia
Awareness Day

And urge all citizens of the Commonwealth to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in it's observance.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston, this twenty-fifth day of March, in the year two thousand and eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the two hundred and thirty first.

By His Excellency,
Deval L Patrick
Governor of the Commonwealth

William Franis Galvin
Secretary of the Commonwealth

God Save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts