“According to the March of Dimes, congenital heart defects are the #1 birth defect. In the US alone, over 25,000 babies are born each year with a congenital heart defect.”

25,000.

In the year 2006, one of those 25,000 babies was my sweet Jocelyn. She was born with multiple heart defects. She underwent a septal AV canal repair, a AsD repair, and she still has a cleft mitral valve along with regurgitation. She also had a VSD, but it got small enough to not require surgery. So much for her little body.

Let me help explain what all of that means. Hang with me for a second.

Atrioventricular Septal Canal (AV Canal) defect: The primary defect is the failure of formation of the part of the heart that arises from an embryonic structure called the endocardial cushions. The endocardial cushions are responsible for separating the central parts of the heart near the tricuspid and mitral valves (AV valves), which separate the atria from the ventricles (Cincinnati’s Children’s Hospital, 2016).

Atrial Septic Defect (ASD): Essentially, this defect is a hole in the wall that separates the top two chambers of the heart.

Cleft Mitral Valve Defect:  With this one, there is a hole of varying degree between low pressure chambers of the atria. This can be fixed by closing the cleft with sutures.

Now that you have a little bit of understanding as to what those things are, let me explain to you why it’s so important to be aware of CHD.

It’s important for so many reasons, but the biggest reason is that these are people who need so much love and support. They need encourages and believers. Prayer warriors and miracle believers alike. It’s important because 25,000 people are born with some sort of heart defect, some of which are not detected until birth.  It’s important because there are 25,000 families who’s lives are changed for forever. Our family is so blessed by Jocelyn’s strength. She is ten years old, but you couldn’t tell by her small size. She loves to swim and be in the pool, but we just have to make sure her body temperature does not drop too low. She loves to run, but we watch to make sure she isn’t too hot. Her ten year old heart works so hard to do what ten year old kids do. She has loving parents who adapted to this new lifestyle when she was born, and care for her and her needs so deeply, and so patiently. We have been blessed with 10 years of Jocelyn’s high pitched voice, giggles, love, sass, and humor.

But, listen to me.

It’s so important to talk about kids who were not as fortunate as Jocelyn.

It’s important to love on those families.

It’s important to support research done for CHD, because there is still SO much yet to be discovered.

It’s important to pray for the doctors who do the research that they may use their resources to the best of their ability.

It’s important to donate blood if you are able. You are saving lives of children and people you will never meet. 

Let me tell you… we are so thankful for you. As Jocelyn’s family, I am so thankful for you.

It is important to sign up to be an organ donor if you are able. If you are unsure on how to do this, what it means, or who to contact… please message me and I will give you the resources you need to make this happen. 

This month is CHD awareness that is so great. Remind yourself that CHD doesn’t stop in February. The diagnosis do not stop in February. The research does not stop in February. The grieving processes do not stop in February. The survivors don’t stop in February.

Please don’t stop in February.

Below are the links to just two children’s hospitals that I respect highly. Check them out. Read the stories. Be amazed.

I love you guys.

http://www.mottchildren.org/giving

https://www.rileychildrens.org/about/ways-to-give/