(HARRISBURG) – State Senator Scott Martin (R-13) took to the Senate floor to highlight May as Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) awareness month in Pennsylvania.
“This horrific disease was first brought to my attention by a grieving Lancaster County family who lost their beautiful, young daughter to this condition,” Senator Martin said. “In her memory, I hope to draw attention to EDS in order to help increase attention towards research in combatting the condition.
EDS is characterized as a group of genetic disorders affecting connective tissue in the body. While not commonly known, about 200,000 cases of EDS are diagnosed each year in the United States.
The disease manifests itself with individuals appearing to have loose skin, instability, constant dislocations of joints and fragile often hyper-elastic skin that bruises, scars and tears easily. In some cases, EDS can cause unpredictable arterial and organ ruptures that can lead to acute pain, excessive internal bleeding, shock, strokes and unfortunately premature death.
“I hope people fighting this disease know that there is a network of EDS support groups out there to help,” said Senator Martin.
CONTACT: Terry Trego