Close to my heart

I never thought I would be one of those people that had a cause that they felt strongly about. In fact, I never could completely understand some people's dedication to raising money for a cause or in some cases their complete devotion to a particular cause. About 4 years ago, I began reading a blog about a sweet family that lost their 9 month old daughter to leukemia. It was then I began to understand that mom's commitment to helping other families to deal with all the heartache she had just endured.

I truly understood that desire after the birth of Brennan. I don't think you can really feel that pull, that intense desire to make a difference, until you are faced with the harsh reality of what cause you are fighting for. That cause for me is raising awareness for congenital heart defects.

February 7-14, 2009 has been designated Congenital Heart Defect Awareness week. An estimated one in every 100 children born in the United States each year have a malformed heart, making it the MOST common birth defect.

To be honest, before I had Brennan, I had never really heard of heart defects in newborn babies. Two days before I delivered him, he was diagnosed with a heart defect that we were told would take his life. After two open heart surgeries and about a week spent in the hospital we brought him home for good. Without research, amazing doctors and surgeons, I am not sure that we would have the same end result.

I cherish everyday we have with him, because I know what the alternative could have been. I know there are many other families that have lived in our shoes, and many more that will. I can only hope that as research and technology advance, so will early detection of the defects and the procedures used to repair them.

Please take an opportunity this week, to find out more information about these defects, tell someone you know about this important week and what it means, ask a question to learn more.

"A mended heart is a special heart."

Lots of love,

The Grady's