Congenital Heart Defects Awareness Week Coming: An Equation

I have to admit that I love math. I love numbers and how each problem has a nice, tidy answer. I don't think I could correctly recall the quadratic equation, but there is another equation that I will never forget:

God >

There is nothing you could put in the right-hand side of that equation to make it false. Nothing.

Not the diagnosis of a missing ventricle

 not open-heart surgery

not even the future unknown.

That equation has brought our family much peace as we've journeyed through the world of heart defects with our little boy. It's a big world. Nearly one in 100 babies is affected. And it's a scary world. Heart defects are the leading cause of birth-defect related deaths.

In my tiny corner of cyberspace, I want to shout from the rooftops that heart defects are a big deal. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about my son's heart or the families that have lost their children to a heart defect. Hopefully as more people become aware of the prevalence of congenital heart disease, the more funding that is allocated to research and technology in this field. Many of us heart moms can truly say that without funding, research and the passion to fix these hearts, our children wouldn't be here today.

So I love math and I'm starting to fall a little bit in love with Pinterest. A fellow heart mom has started a board to help promote awareness of and advocacy for these amazing kids (and adults!) born with a congenital heart defect. Pinterest is a virtual bulletin board, a place to pin ideas, stories or images which can be viewed and clicked on. Heart mom Ruth has created a board in honor of CHD awareness called, "The Faces of CHD - Congenital Heart Awareness Week Feb 7-12, 2012". This board is devoted to telling the stories of families affected by the #1 birth defect.

Luke's story is just one of millions, but it's ours and it's unique. Just like his heart.

If you get a chance, click over to Pinterest to see the amazing stories of some amazing kids. And if you ever feel led to make a donation to help this cause, here are some great options:

• Seattle Children's Heart Center
• The Children's Heart Foundation
• The Congenital Heart Information Network

We love you, Luke, and are so proud to watch you walk this road with spunk. We will always be walking with you.