Friday, November 23, 2012

Did you know.. Congenital Heart Disease is the #1 Birth Defect in America?


Did you know that Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) is the #1 Birth Defect in America? 

Many of you say that Lily is now free from pain and suffering but so many babies with CHD start out like Lily and live long, productive lives.. free of pain and suffering.  My dear Lillian Grace.. I just wish you were one of the many that survive every year..  
 


It was estimated that Lily had a 70-80% chance of survival with her Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) and mosaic chromosome 17 condition.. I will never know how her Mosaic Chromosome 17 condition would have effected her as she physically presented normal. She had a 9/9 Apgar score at birth. She had a thickened nuchal fold (essentially a fat roll) on her neck that never showed up on ultrasound and was a small physical characteristic.. didn't do anything to her and she had a straight line across her hand (just like her Dad does).. Those were the only physical characteristics that showed for her mosaic chromosome 17 condition.. It could have effected her mildly or severely.. I would have been there every step of the way for Lily no matter what though..

She had a high chance of survival.. very high. Remember CHD is the #1 Birth Defect in America.. a heart defect is more common than you think.. 


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 Facts about congenital heart defects (http://www.chop.edu/service/cardiac-center/chd-awareness/): Congenital heart defects are the most common types of birth defects in children. In fact, 1 out of every 120 babies in the U.S. is born with a congenital heart defect each year. In 2012, about 1 million babies will be diagnosed with CHD worldwide. Congenital heart defects are approximately 60 times more prevalent than childhood cancer and are the leading cause of deaths in the first year of life.... it took my sweet Lily's life.. just so sad that it took Lily's life.. I miss you sweet fighter..

C

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