February 14th Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day

Somewhere...someplace... today...
A family is waiting to hear...
Is something wrong with their baby?
The answers aren't quite clear...
This family has entered an unwanted world...
And they just don't know what to expect...
Somewhere...someplace... today...
They first heard the words: heart defect.
And how they hoped this was not true...
And thought... this cannot be...
I too... know just how this feels...
For one day...this was me.
Somewhere...someplace...today...
A man and a woman embrace...
Their baby is in surgery...
They long to see her face...
They haven't got to hold her yet...
Without...a cord or line...
They pace the room awaiting news...
And hope she'll be just fine.
Prayers fill this busy waiting room...
And mom and dad are scared...
Somewhere...someplace..today...
The tiniest hearts are repaired.
Somewhere...someplace...today...
A child's growing fast...
Smiling,laughing,thriving...
His mom thinks...can this last?
It's almost easy...to forget...
That anything is wrong...
Somewhere...someplace..today...
Her child seems so strong.
Somewhere...someplace... today...
A little boy fights...just to live
A father holds his tiny hand...
His love...all he can give...
The doctor's are all baffled...
They fear that he might die...
Somewhere...someplace...today...
A family says goodbye...
Somewhere...someplace...each year..
More than 40,000 families will see...
What it means...when something's wrong...
They'll face a CHD.
Today...for just a moment...
Stop...remember...reflect...
Make time to tell someone you know...
"I've been changed by a heart defect".


Author - Stephanie Husted

It's today that we honor every heart that is broken,
Too many are gone now, some words left unspoken...
A good fight is fought but still many don't stay...
So we have all learned to just live for today.
I once spent this day with sweet love cards to give...
Now I think of the children, who fight just to live...
40,000 babies affected each year...
Inciting in parents the very worst fear...
The child you've wanted for so very long...
May never come home, for his heart is not strong.
Every second seems to echo an eternity...
Will my child survive this to come home with me?
I won't say it's been easy, I can't say it's been fair...
I will say through it all HE has always been there.
Yes, on Valentines Day I do celebrate love...
Today my child lives, and today that's enough.

Tomorrow, February 14 is more than just Valentine's Day...

Governor Steve Beshear has proclaimed February 14, 2009 as Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day in Kentucky.

February 14 is all about raising awareness to fight congenital heart defects, which afflict about 36,000 infants a year and are the leading cause of death from birth defects. These defects can be both expensive and widespread. In 2004, hospital costs for congenital cardiovascular defects exceeded $2.6 billion. From 650,000 to 1.3 million people in the United States live with a cardiovascular defect they’ve had since birth.

In 2007–08, the American Heart Association invested more than $11 million on pediatric heart research. It has funded nearly 500 pediatric research studies nationwide from 2000 through 2008.

May all of the hearts around town this weekend remind you of the tiniest hearts affected by congenital heart defects. Thank you for helping us make a difference.