Something from the Heart

On July 15, 2008, our lives were changed forever when we found out that our sweet baby boy would be born with a congenital heart defect. Before that day, I had never really thought about congenital heart defects but now I think about them every day. Liam is truly a miracle and every day I praise God for giving me my heart baby. He is perfect in every way and I would not trade him for anything.

As a heart mom to my beautiful CHD baby, I want to do more to help increase awareness about America's #1 birth defect, Congenital Heart Defects. Here are some CHD Statistics:

~Sometimes during early pregnancy, a babies heart fails to form properly, resulting in structural abnormalities known as congenital heart defects. Although some defects are genetic, in many cases the causes is unknown.

~Every 15 minutes a baby is born with a CHD.

~Congenital heart defects are America's #1 birth defect. CHD effects 1% of children born every year, that is 1 in 100 babies.

~Congenital heart defects are the #1 leading cause of birth-defect related deaths. 1 in 3 children who die from a birth defect have a congenital heart defect.

~This year almost 40,000 babies will be born with a congenital heart defect.

~Although some babies will be diagnosed at prenatally or at birth, newborns are not routinely screened for CHD. The consequences of a late diagnosis can have serious, lifelong complications, so it is important for the public to be aware of the signs and symptoms in newborns and children.

~From 1993 to 2003 death rates for congenital heart defects have declined by 31% due to advances made through research.

~There is not yet a preventive cure for any type of congenital heart defect.

~Of every dollar the government spends on medical research only a fraction of a penny is directed toward congenital heart defect research.

Here are some ways you can include yourself in CHD Awareness Week:

~Donate blood (Liam received a blood transfusion during his surgery)
~Talk to your friends and neighbors about your experience with CHD.
~Donate financially.
~Buy a CHD awareness pin & wear it.
~Wear red for CHD week and tell others why you are wearing it.
~Become friends with CHD Awareness Week 2010 (Official) on Facebook.

My CHD miracle baby!