Gastroschisis Awareness Day

By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

WHEREAS, gastroschisis is a defect of the abdominal wall that occurs during pregnancy which may allow the intestines and sometimes other organs to protrude outside the baby’s body; and

WHEREAS, babies born with gastroschisis will require surgery to place the abdominal organs inside the baby’s body and repair the abdominal wall; and

WHEREAS, one in over 2,200 individuals are born with gastroschisis in the United States annually, and hundreds of residents of Virginia are among those affected by gastroschisis; and

WHEREAS, many Americans living with gastroschisis have serious and debilitating conditions that have a significant impact on the lives of those affected including slow growth, short bowel syndrome, multiple organ transplants, and long-term feeding issues; and

WHEREAS, individuals and families affected by gastroschisis often experience problems such as a sense of isolation, difficulty in obtaining an accurate and timely diagnosis before birth, few treatment options, and problems related to accessing or being reimbursed for treatment; and

WHEREAS, the cause of gastroschisis is unknown, and patients and their families must bear a large share of the burden including raising funds for research; and

WHEREAS, Gastroschisis Awareness Day calls attention to the need for public health tracking, research, and other avenues of support for affected people and their families;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize July 30, 2023, as GASTROSCHISIS AWARENESS DAY in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of our citizens.

Governor of Virginia

Proclamations