CHD Awareness Day

A DAY FOR HEARTS is held each year on February 14 to raise awareness of Congenital Heart Defects (CHD), a lethal group of birth defects that affect millions of children worldwide. Eight out of every 1000 live births will have some form of heart defect. Thousands will die each year.

Hearts are a symbol of love and no better day could have been chosen for this event. The parents who love a chronically ill child know what true love is all about.

When we talk about CHD, the needs of these very special parents are often overlooked. The parents of chronically ill children deal with constant uncertainty, financial worries and more. Parents of a CHD child also know what true heartbreak is all about. When a child is born with a chronic illness, parents go through a wide range of emotions such as grief, shock, denial, guilt, anger, despair or confusion. As a result, these parents often must cope with extreme anxiety and depression as well as their child's illness. Truly, the hearts of parents also need some special care. The goal of this feature is raise awareness of this fact and to point out some resources which will help relieve some of the burden on parents.