Governor Proclaims Schizencephaly Awareness Day 2021

WHEREAS, schizencephaly is an extremely rare congenital birth defect characterized by abnormal slits, or clefts, in the cerebral hemispheres of the brain; and

WHEREAS, according to the National Institutes of Health, it is estimated that schizencephaly affects roughly 1 in 65,000 births in the United States; and

WHEREAS, signs and symptoms of schizencephaly may include seizures, intellectual disability, partial or complete paralysis, and developmental delay; and

WHEREAS, the exact cause of schizencephaly is not known, and therefore treatment and diagnosis can be difficult; and

WHEREAS, multiple organizations, including We Are R.A.R.E., exist to educate and raise awareness about schizencephaly as well as support families and individuals suffering from this challenging disorder; and

WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina encourages residents, organizations, and health professionals to come together in support of those affected by schizencephaly and commends those who continue to further research on this subject;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim May 19, 2021, as “SCHIZENCEPHALY AWARENESS DAY” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.