We tend to associate heart problems with adults, thinking of cardiovascular issues as the result of many years of wear and tear. But more than 32,000 infants, or nine of every 1,000 babies, are born with a congenital heart defect (CHD) each year, and 1.3 million Americans are living with a CHD. Other young children acquire heart damage early in life due to infection, or develop heart rate problems known as arrhythmias.
The American Heart Association provides tools, information and support to educate families during and after pregnancy on what to expect when their child has a CHD or other heart issue, and on how to keep their babies as healthy as possible. Established in 1924, the organization is dedicated to fighting cardiovascular disease and stroke, raising more than $110 million annually for research on life-saving surgical innovations and drugs. The association unites volunteers, health care providers, donors and survivors in the fight to build healthier lives. It also serves as an advocate for improved public health policy and was instrumental locally in passing Chloe’s Law, legislation that requires all newborn babies to be screened for critical CHDs before they leave the hospital.
Mercy works closely with the American Heart Association to help kids stay heart healthy. Pediatric cardiologists at Mercy Children’s Hospital specialize in diagnosing, treating and managing both congenital and acquired heart disease. “Early diagnosis, often before birth, is critical to the health of babies born with CHD,” says Mercy president and CEO Lynn Britton. “But parents need special care, too. Mercy’s patient coordinators are constant companions for these families. Their deep understanding of CHD from both an emotional and clinical perspective is of great value to parents. And because we partner with St. Louis Children’s Hospital to care for these babies, our patient coordinators are partners, as well.”
The American Heart Association offers programs that foster healthy lifestyle choices and preventive care for all youngsters, including Simple Cooking with Heart for Kids, which presents hands-on, healthy cooking demonstrations for children ages 8 through 12, and the National Football League Play 60 Challenge, which inspires kids to enjoy at least an hour of physical activity every day. “But the association can’t provide these and other activities without continued community support,” Britton notes.
The Heart Ball, the organization’s annual black-tie gala, generates financial support for research and programs. This year’s event, chaired by Lynn and Thriess Britton, and vice-chaired by Edward Jones managing partner Jim Weddle and his wife, Stacey, takes place Feb. 28 at the Chase Park Plaza. Presenting sponsors are Mercy and World Wide Technology Inc. “The Heart Ball celebrates the many lives saved through American Heart Association research and educational programs,” Britton says. “But it’s also a thank-you to the wonderful business and philanthropic leaders who donate and volunteer so generously to strengthen hearts in our community. Every day, they work together to improve your family’s well-being.”
Pictured: Patient coordinators Amy McLean of Mercy Children’s Hospital and Kym Galbraith of St. Louis Children’s Hospital
Photo: Colin Miller of Strauss Peyton
[The 2015 St. Louis Heart Ball, benefiting the American Heart Association, takes place Feb. 28 at the Chase Park Plaza. For more information, call 314.692.5617 or visit heart.org/stlouis.]
