Before Anniek was diagnosed with a Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) I had never heard of a CHD. You never imagine when you are told that you have a healthy baby that it will all change 6-8 hours later and it goes from having a healthy baby to a baby that has a CHD and needs to have open heart surgery. It is terrifying. After the doctor leaves you go over your pregnancy thinking about what you might have done wrong, what you could have done differently...as well as all the why me questions.
Facts about Congenital Heart Defects
- CHDs are the #1 birth defect in the WORLD!
- And the #1 cause of death from a birth defect.
- Many children will not live to see their first birthday.
- Nearly twice as many children die from CHDs each year as from all forms of childhood cancers combined (Yet Cancer research raises twice the funds)
- Babies that have complex cases (consisting of more then one defect) often require surgery in their first months of life
Canadian Statistics
- 1 in 70 Canadian newborns are affected by a CHD
- Ontario has the highest rate of births with CHDs in Canada
- Windsor has the highest rate (per capita) of births with CHDs with Essax County following close behind
Happy Halloween!
5 years ago
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