CHD is an anomaly of the heart that is present at birth. CHD’s cause one or more portions of the heart to develop abnormally. At least 35 distinct forms recognized. (There is no known cause for CHD, although genetics is the number one suspect)

CHD is the # 1 birth defect and is the leading cause of birth-defect related deaths… (While it is the most common birth defect, it is the least publicized.)

CHD strikes children without regard to economic level, ethnic origin, sex, geographic location or religious beliefs.
40,000 infants are born with CHD each year in the U.S. (Still, newborns are not screened for CHD’s.)
Some babies may be diagnosed before birth or at birth, some not until days, weeks, months or even years later. Sadly, too many are not diagnosed until after death.

Undiagnosed CHD’s and Childhood Onset Heart Disease cause many cases of Sudden Cardiac Death in young athletes. (Despite these statistics, teen-aged athletes are not routinely screened for CHD’s.)
There are 1.2 million children and adults with CHD alive today (CHD affects not only patients, but also entire families.)

Your newborn is finally here! She is so beautiful and looks perfect...but did you know that some babies with Congenital Heart Defects are sent home UNDIAGNOSED!?

Would you know what symptoms to look for if this happened to your baby?

Please educate yourself on the signs and symptoms of CHD and heart failure.

1 in every 125 babies will be born with CHD

Your baby just might need you to save her life!

Our little ones whisper,
"Forget me not",
As their specialness wraps
around our heart.

Their short little lives
Hold meaning and love.
Their spirits have touched
us-each and everyone.

They have left their gifts
For us to uncover,
If we open our eyes,
our hearts and our lives.
The road to discovery
is hilly and dark.

Will we long harbor the pain
or set our wings for the light?
Our lives have been changed,
our paths filled with sorrow.

Yet their memories embrace us
and our love lasts forever.
If we open our hearts,
their gifts shall unfold, as we
forget them not.