[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 158 (Tuesday, October 3, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1309]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNIZING CHILDREN'S CARDIOMYOPATHY AWARENESS MONTH

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                        HON. BRENDA L. LAWRENCE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 3, 2017

  Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Children's 
Cardiomyopathy Awareness Month and to honor the memory of one of my 
constituents who lost his life far too early to a truly devastating 
condition.
  Pediatric cardiomyopathy, a chronic and degenerative disease of the 
heart muscle, is the leading cause of sudden cardiac arrest in 
children. My constituent, Kyle John Rymiszewski, was diagnosed at birth 
with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which thickens the heart muscle and 
restricts blood flow around the body. He courageously fought it for 
years until his heart of gold stopped beating at the young age of 
fifteen. In memory of their son, Kyle's parents, Ken Rymiszewski and 
Aimee Cowher, founded the Kyle John Rymiszewski Foundation to increase 
awareness of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and to fund critically needed 
research to improve treatment outcomes. Other organizations like the 
Children's Cardiomyopathy Foundation also further this work and help 
families care for children with cardiomyopathy. I commend these 
organizations for their tireless work to give our children a better 
chance at life.
  It is important that we recognize Children's Cardiomyopathy Awareness 
Month and continue to spread awareness about this disease. Over forty 
percent of children diagnosed with cardiomyopathy will either die or 
undergo a heart transplant within the first two years of their 
diagnosis. Despite this, little is known about the causes of this 
disease and there currently is no cure for it. Although patients with 
the four different types of cardiomyopathy have varying symptoms, each 
case poses major challenges and dangers. During this month and beyond, 
we must commit to spreading information and resources to help identify 
at-risk children and avoid preventable tragedies.
  Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in spreading awareness 
of this disease and supporting children like Kyle who suffer from 
pediatric cardiomyopathy.

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