[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 86 (Thursday, May 18, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E661]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      NATIONAL DIPG AWARENESS DAY

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                        HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 18, 2017

  Mr. DUNCAN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support H. Res. 
69, the National DIPG Awareness Resolution, in honor of Julia Barbara 
Psar--one of my constituents who passed away from Diffuse Intrinsic 
Pontine Glioma (DIPG) on May 17, 2016.
  DIPG is the deadliest type of pediatric brain tumors. According to 
the CDC, brain tumors are the leading cause of childhood cancer death, 
and DIPG is the second most common malignant brain tumor found in 
children. DIPG has a less than 1 percent survival rate, and most 
children die within nine months after being diagnosed.
  This little girl--Julia Barbara Psar--died just before her third 
birthday. I have always read and heard that the worst thing in the 
world is to outlive one of your own children, and I have no doubt this 
is true. I have met with my constituents Mr. and Mrs. Psar, and I do 
not believe someone can ever have closure after a loss like theirs. 
Words cannot express how heartbreaking this tragedy is.
  Our children urgently need us to find a cure for DIPG. Today, I urge 
my colleagues to support H. Res. 69, establishing May 17th as National 
DIPG Awareness Day in hopes of curing the deadliest type of pediatric 
brain tumors.

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