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| Date: | June 9, 2011 | | Contact Name: | Chris Van Guilder | | Contact Phone: | 651-296-1388 | | Contact Email: | christopher.vanguilder@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
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| SEN. MAGNUS, REP. HAMILTON, “LEO’S BILL” LEGISLATION SIGNED INTO LAW |
ST. PAUL – Governor Mark Dayton signed into law a bill chief-authored by State Senator Doug Magnus (R-Slayton)and State Representative Rod Hamilton (R-Mountain Lake) that designates the third week of September as Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week in Minnesota.
The “Leo’s Bill” legislation was named after Andrew Nesseth’s and Lindsay Chapman’s one-year-old son Leo who died last June of the rare and fatal genetic disorder.
"Governor Dayton's signature today is a meaningful step in raising awareness of this disease," said Senator Magnus. "Representative Hamilton and I were deeply moved by this tragedy, and wanted to help in any way we could. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with Leo's parents, Governor Dayton and my colleagues as we passed this legislation."
Mitochondrial diseases result from failures of the mitochondria, which create more than 90% of the energy needed by the body to sustain life and support growth. The disease primarily affects infants and children but adults can also be impacted. Defects in nuclear-encoded mitochondrial genes are associated with hundreds of clinical disease phenotypes including anemia, dementia, hypertension, lymphoma, retinopathy, seizures, and neurodevelopment disorders. It currently impacts tens of thousands of children.
In Leo’s case, he awoke with a seizure when he was nine months old, and the seizures continued as he was airlifted to the hospital. Eventually he lost all muscle control and his digestive system began to fail. Three months later, after being unable to eat, talk or move due to this horrific mitochondrial condition, Leo passed away.
“I’m so pleased that Governor Dayton has signed Leo’s bill into law, and it’s been my honor to work with Leo’s parents on this legislation,” Hamilton said. “Passing this legislation is the least we can do to help ease their pain and raise awareness of this terrible disease.”
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