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A Day for Hearts: Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day Page 1 of 3
CONGENITAL
EART INFORMATION NETWORK '
Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day
February 14, 2002
News Release
Background Info
IICHD Fact Sheet
C.H.I.N. Info
Newsletter CHD Day 2002
Personal Stories ! Sample Proclamation
NEWS RELEASE
http://ww~
For Immediate Release
December 21,2001
Contact: Mona Barmash, (215) 493-3068
NATIONAL HEART DEFECT AWARENESS DAY AIMS
TO GIVE VALENTINE'S DAY A NEW TAKE ON LOVE
Government officials have proclaimed Feb. 14 as "Congenital Heart Defect
Awareness Day" urging early diagnosis of most common birth defect
(Yardley, PA) - Valentine's Day and hearts are eternally linked. A group of
dedicated parents, patients, family members and friends, along with doctors,
nurses and social workers are hoping an annual "heart" holiday will help them
raise awareness about the most common birth defect in the United States -
congenital heart defects.
State and local government officials have proclaimed Feb. 14, 2002 as
"Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day."
Jeanne Imperati of Connecticut, herself the mother of a child with a congenital
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heart defect, in 1999 conceived the idea for an annual awareness day to reduce
childhood deaths, and increase funding to support congenital heart defect
related causes and cures.
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.
"An untold number of children are put at risk each year due to a lack of early
screening for congenital heart defects and childhood onset heart disease," said
Mona Barmash of Yardley, Penn., the founder of the Congenital Heart
Information Network (CHIN), which sponsors the national awareness day.
"Few people realize more babies are born with congenital heart defects -
approximately 40,000 - than wkh spina bifida, Down's syndrome and hearing
loss. Yet, heart defects are sometimes overlooked and not routinely diagnosed
in newborns."
C.H.I.N. (tchin.org) was launched in 1996 as an international non-profit
organization that provides reliable information, support services and resources
to families of children with congenital and acquired heart disease, adults with
congenital heart defects, and the professionals who work with them. The all-
volunteer organization supports www.tchin.org, which each month receives
thousands of .visitors throughout the world. The organization's support groups
and discussion forums serve approximately 2,500 parents, family members,
adults with CHD, and health professionals.
"Valentine's Day is the perfect day to draw attention to congenital heart
defects," said Barmash, who is the mother of a college student with complex
congenital heart defects. "We all see these perfect decorative hearts at
Valentine's Day. But for parents and families of kids with heart defects, these
hearts mean so much more."
Local coordinators nationwide are planning activities in recognition of
Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day 2002. For more information on what's
happening visit www.tchin.org/aware, or call (215-493-3068)
- 30-
EDITORS NOTE: Contact Mona Barmash at (215) 493-3068 to schedule
interviews with heart defect patients, their families or medical professionals.
http ://www. t chin. o rg/media, htm 1/9/02