Jenny R. McCormick, Senior Editor of PreemieWorld
February was named American Heart Month by the American Heart Association and February 7-14th is Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) Awareness Week. Nearly 1 in 110 babies is born with a heart defect in the United States each year. About 1 in 4 babies born with a heart defect (about 25 percent) has a critical CHD. If you have a baby with a heart defect here are some resources:
MENDED LITTLE HEARTS: In 2004, The Mended Hearts, Inc. recognized a unique need to provide hope and support to “the littlest heart patients of all” and their families, so the Mended Little Hearts program was created. https://mendedhearts.org/about-us/about-mended-little-hearts/
CONQUERING CHD: Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) consists of problems with the heart’s structure or the way it works that are present at birth, including related lifelong consequences. Learn more about the most common birth defect and how to get CHD support. https://www.conqueringchd.org/
THE CHILDREN’S HEART FOUNDATION: The Children’s Heart Foundation was founded in 1996 and is the country’s leading organization solely dedicated to funding congenital heart defect (CHD) research. https://www.childrensheartfoundation.org/
HOPEFUL HEARTS: Hopeful Hearts has been formed under the precepts that helps build both awareness and support for all families that have been affected by CHD. Hopeful Hearts is committed to helping fund research for heart valve replacement, promote early detection, and for the care involved from the corrective surgery through the integral healing and recovery process. http://hopeful-hearts.org/index.php
HARBORING HEARTS: Harboring Hearts is a 501c3 public charity dedicated to providing emergency housing, transportation, food and other critical resources to transplant and cardiac surgery surgery patients and their families. https://harboringhearts.org/
LITTLE HEARTS: A national organization that provides support, education, resources, networking, and hope to families affected by congenital heart defects. https://www.littlehearts.org/
Sunday, Feb. 7 kicks off the start of Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) Awareness Week, occurring Feb. 7-14. Support the campaign by sharing facts and using #CHDAware in your posts on social media.