CHD Awareness

is this week. It has been a bitter-sweet week. My emotions have been absolutely out of wack. Just the mention of my sweet niece's name, Mercydez, stabs my heart. I nearly break into tears. I love my little niece. To say I miss her is so....inadequate. So not-right. I miss "My Sweeeetie". I miss her expressions. I miss her noises. I miss her cute little attitude. I miss her spirit. One day. One day I'll be with her again.


CHD is Congenital Heart Disease/Defect. What that means is the heart disease/defect is formed before birth. There are more than 40 different types of CHD. Little is known about the cause of most of them. There is no known prevention or cure for ANY of them.


What is the benefit of CHD Awareness? If you are educated, you can encourage family and friends who are expecting to request their OBGYN to look specifically at their unborn child's heart. If CHD is suspected they/you will then have time to prepare; to network with doctors, hospitals, insurance companies, and other CHD families. This is a GREAT advantage.

Here are some other facts (yes, I'm spreading awareness!!)

1) Congenital Heart Disease/Defects is ANY type of heart disease/defect formed before birth. At least HALF of all children diagnosed with CHD will require at least one invasive surgery.

2) Almost half of all children and adults with complex CHD's have neurological and developmental disabilities.

3) CHD is the most common birth defect in the USA. 1 in 100 children born are diagnosed with CHD. 1 in 10 children diagnosed with CHD will not live to see adulthood.

4) Only one penny of every dollar donated to the American heart Association goes toward Congenital Heart Defect research. Only The Children's Heart Foundation contributes 100% of donations to CHD research.


With this month being the month of love, pink, red, and heart-shaped items, I hope you will remember and respect those who suffer from a CHD. Thank you for taking the time to read this, allowing me to spread awareness in honor of my Miracle Angel.

Happy Valentine's!