Many of you may not know that February 7-14 is Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week. There is a great board on Pinterest right now to help highlight this – check it out here: (http://pinterest.com/ruth_h/the-faces-of-chd-congenital-heart-awareness-week-f/)
I figured it was time to repost some info about CHD’s and how it is an honor to share my trials with other families who have heart warriors and heart angels. Our heart warrior, Grace, just celebrated her 8th birthday!
When Grace was born (click here to read her story), she had a Coarc repair done at 4 days old at Children’s Hospital of Milwaukee. She currently has an ASD, VSD, PFO, and Bicuspid Aortic Valve that are monitored yearly. Thankfully she is doing well at the present time and is active, although no contact sports allowed. We do know that at some point she will most likely need an additional surgery to repair her valve, but for now we are just thankful to have her with us!
Here is some info about CHD’s:
CHD Facts
- Congenital Heart Defects are the #1 birth defect. Source: March of Dimes
- Congenital Heart Defects are the #1 cause of birth defect related deaths. Source: March of Dimes
- About 1 out of every 100 babies are born each year with some type of Congenital Heart Defect. (approx. 40,000/year) Source: Children’s Heart Foundation
- Nearly twice as many children die from Congenital Heart Defects in the United States each year as from all forms of childhood cancers combined, yet funding for pediatric cancer research is five times higher than funding for CHD. Source: Children’s Heart Foundation
- The American Heart Association directs only $0.30 of every dollar donated toward research. The remainder goes toward administration, education and fundraising efforts. Of the $0.30 that goes toward research only $0.01 goes toward pediatric cardiology for CHD. Source: Children’s Heart Foundation
- This year approximately 4,000 babies will not live to see their first birthday because of Congenital Heart Defects. Source: Children’s Heart Foundation
- The cost for inpatient surgery to repair Congenital Heart Defects exceeds $2.2 billion a year. Source: Children’s Heart Foundation
- Of every dollar the government spends on medical funding only a fraction of a penny is directed toward Congenital Heart Defect research. Source: Children’s Heart Foundation
- Though research is ongoing, at least 35 defects have now been identified.
- 4-8% born with CHD have Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
- 4-10% born with CHD have Atrioventricular Septal Defects
- 8-11% born with CHD have Coarctation of the Aorta
- 9-14% born with CHD have Tetralogy of Fallot
- 10-11% born with CHD have Transposition of the Great Arteries
- 14-16% born with CHD have Ventricular Septal Defects
- Although some babies will be diagnosed during gestation or at birth, sometimes the diagnosis is not made until days, weeks, months, or even years after. In some cases, CHD is not detected until adolescence or adulthood. Source: March of Dimes
- It is a proven fact that the earlier CHD is detected and treated, it is more likely the affected child will survive and have less long term health complications. Source: March of Dimes
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