Monday, February 14, 2011

Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week

Washington State has joined 27 other states proclaiming February 7-14 to officially be CHD Awareness Week!


I'm jumping in on this last day of this important week to thank the other heart families who have worked so hard to bring awareness and funding to this disease that affects so many. Currently, more than 1 million children and adults are living with a congenital heart defect. 1 million stories, 1 million scars. 1 million reasons to get involved.

"Awareness and funding of CHD is vital to the development of new and better treatments and to continue to search for the causes of congenital heart disease," said Robert Shaddy M.D., chief of the division of Cardiology at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia "Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Day brings pediatric issues to the forefront, and I invite everyone to partner with the Cardiac Center to raise awareness that children's heart issues are extremely important."

I would agree that children's heart issues are extremely important! It is only because of medical advances in the last 40 years that have allowed my son to live, and live well.

One great resource I came across is from the CHOP (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) website. Their team has put together a CHD toolkit and you can click here to find it on the right sidebar.

1 million can be a big number to get your head around, so here's just 1 reason to become the best advocates for CHD awareness we can be:


And this sweet boy, 3 years later, would like to wish everyone a "Happy Valentime's Day!"

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