|
|
 |
 |
|
|
        |
|
Media Kit
News ReleaseContact: Mona Barmash, 609-822-1572
(MArgate City, NJ)) - 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 will proclaim Feb. 7-14, 2011 as "Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week." Jeanne Imperati of Connecticut, herself the mother of a child with a congenital 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. "Few people realize more babies are born with congenital heart defects – approximately 40,000 –each year - than with Spina Bifida, Down's syndrome and hearing loss. Yet, heart defects are sometimes overlooked and not routinely diagnosed in newborns." "An untold number of children and young adults are put at risk each year due to a lack of early screening for heart defects and childhood onset heart disease," said Mona Barmash, the founder of the Congenital Heart Information Network (CHIN), which sponsors the national awareness week. C.H.I.N. (tchin.org) was launched in 1996 as a national non-profit organization that provides reliable information, support services, advocacy, financial assistance, 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 organization publishes http://.tchin.org, which receives thousands of visitors from throughout the world every day.
"Valentine's Day is the perfect time to bring families, health professionals, and local organizations together, and to draw attention to the needs of the congenital heart community," said Barmash, who is the mother of an adult living well with complex CHD. "For parents and families of kids and adults with heart defects, February 7-14th means hope and remembrance�. Local coordinators nationwide are planning activities in recognition of Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week 2009. For more information on what's happening visit www.tchin.org/aware, or call (215) 627-4034. - 30 - EDITORS NOTE: Contact Mona Barmash at (609) 822-1572 to schedule interviews with heart defect patients, their families or medical professionals.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
