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March 2019: Trisomy Awareness Month

WHEREAS, during the month of March, Trisomy Awareness Month is observed to encourage citizens to increase their awareness of Trisomy, a genetic disorder that deeply affects families; and,
WHEREAS, Trisomy is the presence within a person’s cells of one extra chromosome, for a total of three chromosomes instead of a pair. As a type of aneuploidy, trisomy can occur with any of the 23 pairs of chromosomes a person has; and,

WHEREAS, the most common trisomies in newborns are trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome), and trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome); and,

WHEREAS, local support groups, medical professionals, and online communities offer education, encouragement, and counseling for those managing trisomy pregnancies or raising trisomy-affected children; and,

WHEREAS, now is the time for all Michiganders to educate themselves on all forms of trisomy, support families currently experiencing trisomy, and participate in helping people with developmental disabilities achieve their full potential;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim March 2019 as Trisomy Awareness Month in Michigan.