Monday, February 14th is A Day for Hearts,
a day to help promote awareness about Congenital Heart Defects.
To most people February 14th was just Valentine's day. Until my youngest son was born on July 4th, 2008 I was one of those, and then it all changed.
Less than a week after my son, Sean, was born we found out that he had a hole in his heart. By the time he was two weeks old he had been to the ER, had seen a cardiologist twice and was now on medication to help keep him alive. He had a type of defect known as Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD). Most of these holes do close on their own. Unfortunately Sean's was too large to do so. On January 14, 2009 my six month old son had open-heart surgery to repair the hole. Sean may never have a 'normal' heart, but he is alive and living quite an active life.
Unfortunately, for many children this is not the story. 1 in 100 children in the US are born every year with a Congenital Heart Defect, where autism affects 1 in 110 children and cancer is diagnosed 2 in every 1000 children a year. Yet we hear nothing about Congenital Heart Defects.
February 14, 2009 was my first "Day for Hearts". I would love for you to help show your support and spread awareness about Congenital Heart Defects. Let February 14, 2011 be your first "Day for Hearts".
How can you help?
Tell others - friends, family, everyone - about "A Day for Hearts"
Here are some websites to learn more about "A Day for Hearts" as well as more about Congenital Heart Defects.
Sean, Dec. 2010
Thank you for your support!
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