1 in 100

1 in 100. That's it. That's all you have to be to have a child born with a congenital heart defect. 1 in 100. Wow.

Before Luke was born, we didn't know how common heart defects are (and remember that my niece has ToF, so we weren't strangers to CHDs). Before you learned of Luke's story, did you know how common they are?

Too common. Too many lives taken. Too many parents holding empty baby blankets. Too many siblings trying to figure out where their baby is. Too little research done to prevent CHDs from happening. Seriously, the amount of money spent of research for CHDs is laughable. Why don't heart defects get the coverage they need so that these children can live? I ask myself that question each day.

You may be wondering why I am up in arms about CHDs today? Well, in the blogging/Facebook world, heart moms tend to be like family. We constantly pray for the babies who are fighting and mourn for the babies who we have lost. This week, there have been at least nine angels who have earned their wings due to CHDs. Nine. Nine...and that doesn't even account for the countless children who we have lost who are not part of the blogging community.

Too common. Too many lives taken. Too many parents holding empty baby blankets. Too many siblings trying to figure out where their baby is. Too little research done to prevent CHDs from happening.

Until we can get the attention of the media and force the issue of CHDs, the funding for research will remain the same. If any of you reading this post are involved in any way with media outlets, I am begging you to help spread awareness of CHDs. Losing Luke was the most difficult thing that Tommy and I have ever faced. We don't want any other parents to weep over their child's crib. With more research, hopefully no other parent will be forced to do that. I can give you statistics, personal accounts, as well as point you in the direction of medical professionals who would help shed more light on CHDs.

Thanks for allowing me to vent...it is so difficult to read the beautiful words that these new angel mothers have written, knowing that I have been there, too. Please pray for the souls of the gorgeous children the world has lost this week, including Joshua and Ewan (I followed their stories). Please also continue to pray for my sweet friend Ashley and her beautiful baby girl who will be born with a CHD. God bless!

PS Thank you so much for writing notes to Matthew on the previous post. He loved reading his birthday messages!