CHD Awareness Week

Like many heart friends I have met, Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week (February7-14) is something we had never heard about nor had a connection to until we learned in the past year how our lives were affected by the news that our child had a heart defect. Merideth was diagnosed at the end of February, and I already find myself keeping track of where I was this time last year.

Here are some facts about CHD:
“Congenital Heart Disease is considered to be the most common birth defect, and is a leading cause of birth-defect related deaths worldwide.

“Despite the fact that CHD affects approximately 1.8 millions families in the U.S., a relatively small amount of funding is currently available for parent/patient educational services, research, and support.

“By sharing our experiences and providing information, we hope to raise public awareness about conditions that affect approximately 40,000 babies each year in the United States alone” (http://tchin.org/)

While you are doing special things for those you love this week, I invite you to:
--check out Cali’s blog for some wonderful suggestions to raise awareness of heart defects and honor children you know born with this condition (she has done a great job sharing many ideas I would recommend myself)
--visit http://tchin.org/ to learn more about CHDs
--contribute time or money to organizations you know of to raise awareness of heart defects or other medical needs for children

I look forward to what other heart families have to say.

Speaking of participating in good causes, I have wanted to do a follow up on the “Cuddles from the Heart” blanket campaign that I mentioned several months ago. The gal who organized it locally had a goal to collect 350 blankets before Christmas, but she ended up with 700! Four hundred of those went to Primary Children’s Hospital. Jamie’s efforts were inspired by a mom in Iowa—you can check out that blog at cuddlesfromtheheart.blogspot.com.