Local Government News
House Passes Schlegel Resolution to Promote Awareness of Retinal Blindness on Behalf of Local College Student with the Disease
On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed House Resolution 349, sponsored by Rep. John Schlegel (R-Lebanon), designating April 2024 as Retinal Blindness Awareness Month in Pennsylvania. The resolution was presented on behalf of 20-year-old Gracyn Smith of Lebanon County, a sophomore at Coastal Carolina University, who was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa at the age of 5.Rep. John Schlegel, the sponsor of the legislation, expressed his personal connection to Gracyn, stating, "I have known Gracyn for a couple of years and had the privilege of...
Schlegel Resolution on Retinal Blindness Focuses on Local Student
Rep. John Schlegel is sponsoring House Resolution 349, which designates April 2024 as Retinal Blindness Awareness Month in recognition of a Lebanon County woman who has been battling the disease most of her life.“Several retinal diseases can result in blindness, including Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), a rare genetic condition that causes light-detecting cells in the retina to breakdown. This condition typically begins in childhood or adolescence. It is progressive and has no cure,” said Schlegel.RP affects about 100,000 people in the U.S., including 20-year-old Gracyn...