[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 29, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H1201]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
GRACE PESHKUR
(Mr. BISHOP of New York asked and was given permission to address the
House for 1 minute.)
Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Grace
Peshkur and her family on the occasion of her fourth birthday today.
Grace is an extraordinary child who has endured a life of struggle, and
yet she has persevered against a rare skin disease and genetic disorder
called epidermolysis bullosa, or EB for short.
Grace is an inspiration to many Long Island families who have rallied
around her. She has helped raise awareness about EB, which I had never
heard of before meeting Grace.
Over 12,000 Americans like Grace are afflicted with EB. The symptoms
are fragile skin, recurrent blisters and painful sores caused by minor
rubbing and that can be aggravated by routine activities we take for
granted, like eating, walking and even changing clothes.
For Grace and her family, every day that goes by is another battle
won. I admire the Peshkur family and over 12,000 other Americans
afflicted with EB who fight this disease and are working to raise
awareness, find better treatments and, ultimately, discover a cure.
In lieu of a fourth birthday present for Grace, I encourage my
colleagues to cosponsor H. Res. 335, which would raise awareness by
creating an EB awareness week.
Mr. Speaker, we can only imagine the difficulty that Grace and her
family face on a daily basis, but we can do something about it. We can
provide the hope and promise of a cure.
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