Congenital Heart Defect Week

Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week is February 7-14th.  This just so happens to be the week that our sweet baby Clay had his broken heart fixed.  On February 7th, 2012, Dr. Hammel and his team at Children's hospital repaired Clay's atrioventricular septal defect (read about it here).  He was able to come home with us on February 14th - Valentine's Day! (read about it here)

Facts about Congenital Heart Defects:

• Congenital Heart Defect or CHD is the #1 birth defect and the #1 cause of infant death related to birth defects.

• 1 out of every 100-150 babies born will have a CHD.

• 1 in 10 of those born with CHD will have a fatal defect.

• Each year approximately 40,000 babies are born in the US with congenital heart defect.  Thousands of them will not reach their first birthday and thousands more die before they reach adulthood.

• There are at least 35 different heart defects.

• More than 50% of all children born with congenital heart defect will require at least one invasive surgery in their lifetime.

• Prenatal detection of congenital heart disease usually is the result of careful examination of the fetal heart during the routine 20 week ultrasound.

• Educate yourself!  What expecting moms need to know -  thebabyladies.com/congenital-heart-defect-awareness-week-what-moms-need-to-know/

It was the detection of Clay's congenital heart defect during our 20 week ultrasound that started what turned out to be a roller coaster ride of diagnoses, specialists, weekly screenings - and the reason for this blog!  (You can read about that here and here)

We are so lucky to have such a wonderful medical community here in Omaha.  The day Clay was cleared to go home from Children's, Dr. Hammel was in our room and we were discussing whether or not Clay was ready to go home.  Dr. Hammel said to us, "As much as I want him home, I feel better when he is here....safe.  You take care of MY baby..."

Clay has had several follow up appointments with his cardiologist, Dr. Danford, and we were told at his last appointment that his heart is functioning at or above that of a "normal" heart.

Just look at our little man now, with his "zipper" scar as a constant reminder of just how precious his little life is.