Before I was mom to a child with CHD,the hearts of February were Valentine related - candy hearts, heart shaped boxes, chocolate hearts on sticks, greeting cards with the pretty heart shape seen in the top portion of the above image. And while I still indulge in a heart-shaped box of chocolates in the mid week of the month, my mind is far more focused on the bottom image - the image of the human heart, the organ. Without being able to see the wording on the image defining each part, after ten years as a heart-mom, when I look at a diagram of the human heart I find it easy to identify different parts. I see the aorta, the pulmonary valve, the right and left ventricles, the right atrium, etc. With no previous background in medicine other than some grade school biology, it's quite remarkable just how much I have learned about how the human heart functions. Or, rather, how much I have had to learn about how the human heart functions.
A little earlier tonight, I watched a personal friend's video of her son's last year of ups and downs as a complex CHD patient. The young boy has not yet hit his teens but been through four open heart surgeries and will require more in the future to maintain and sustain his life. There is a profound sadness here - there is no cure. Those with CHD will always have CHD, always have the risks associated with their conditions and while some cases are more complex than others, no individual with CHD can be cured with current medical knowledge and practice.
Consider joining me and the countless others who observe February as HEART MONTH in addition to the month when we celebrate love and exchange Valentines and continue on with our daily lives with work, school, our hobbies and family time and friendships. Be aware and care.
To make a donation to a worthy cause that supports those with CHD, consider the Canadian Congenital Heart Alliance: http://www.cchaforlife.org/ or an organization of your choice.
And remember to....
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