Today starts CHD Awareness Week. What is CHD, you ask? Let me tell you...
CHD stands for Congenital Heart Disease/Defect. My little girl, Mercydez has been diagnosed with Complex CHD. CHD is heart disease or heart defects that are developed BEFORE birth.
Here are some shocking statistics...
1. ONE IN TEN children diagnosed with CHD will not live to see adulthood.
2. Congenital Heart Defects are America's NUMBER ONE birth defect. Nearly ONE IN EVERY 100 babies is born with a heart defect.
3. There are more than 40 different types of CHD's. Little is known about the cause of most of them. THERE IS NO KNOWN PREVENTION OR CURE FOR ANY OF THEM.
4. In the United States, TWICE AS MANY CHILDREN DIE from congenital heart defects each year than from ALL forms of childhood cancer COMBINED. Yet funding for pediatric cancer research is FIVE TIMES HIGHER than funding for CHD.
5. Only ONE PENNY OF EVERY DOLLAR donated to The American Heart Association goes toward Congenital Heart Defect research.
6. The Children's Heart Foundation is the only organization that was created to exclusively fund Congenital Heart Defect research.
7. You can visit The Children's Heart Foundation by clicking HERE.
Mercydez's diagnosis doesn't stop at Complex CHD. She has what is known as CHARGE Syndrome. This syndrome includes many, many other difficulties.
There are so many other facts that would just blow you away! These few CHD facts are just the beginning. Please spread the word about CHD's. There is so much support and love available to those experiencing life with a CHD, or families who have a member diagnosed with CHD.
We love CHDrs! And even through the heartache and pain of watching these little ones go through surgeries, pokes, pain, and many times even losing them for a time in this life, I personally feel privileged to be blessed with such an amazing sweetie pie. ..Better to have love and lost then to never have loved at all.
