Pinterest for a Good Cause

Submitted by A Trip to Holland

and The Faces of CHD on Pinterest

Hello, Remodelaholics!  My name is Ruth, and I, too, am addicted to remodeling.  And I kinda have a thing for Pinterest, as well.  Guess I’m in good company, right?  I’d like to thank Cassity for inviting me over today.  I’m here to share a neat way to fuel your Pinterest obsession and do a good deed at the same time!

First, a little about me.  I blog for fun (at A Trip to Holland) and professionally (find out more at Windmill Words).  The Superbowl just took place in my hometown.  I have a husband who can fix or build anything.  And I’m a mother of four.

Two of those four children were born with congenital heart defects (CHDs).

Can you believe that?  Two children with heart defects–what are the chances?  Well, they are actually pretty high, in comparison to other birth defects.  Believe it or not, 1 out of every 100 children will be born with a heart defect.  So chances are, if you don’t already know someone who’s life has been affected by a congenital heart defect, you will know someone eventually.

In fact, someone you know and love may have an undiagnosed heart defect, which can be very dangerous.  Brace yourselves, I’m about to share some really scary statistics with you.  (These come from The Children’s Heart Foundation.)

•Congenital heart defects are America’s and every country’s #1 birth defect. Nearly one of every 100 babies is born with a CHD.

•Congenital heart defects are the #1 cause of birth defect related deaths.

•Congenital heart defects are the leading cause of all infant deaths in the United States.

•Each year approximately 40,000 babies are born in the United States with a congenital heart defect. Thousands of them will not reach their first birthday and thousands more die before they reach adulthood.

•There are more than 40 different types of congenital heart defects. Little is known about the cause of most of them. There is no known prevention or cure for any of them.

This week is Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week.  With the help of two other heart moms, I recently founded a Pinterest board devoted to sharing the stories of families affected by the #1 Birth Defect.  The board is titled, “The Faces of CHD – Congenital Heart Awareness Week Feb 7-14, 2012.”

We already have over 180 beautiful faces with amazing stories on the board.  I would be thrilled if you would join me in pinning for a good cause this week.  Please visit the board and pin any of the stories that touch your heart.  The board is filled with babies, toddlers, big kids, teens, and adults who have CHDs.  Some are thriving, some are just surviving, and others aren’t with us any more.  Every single one is a miracle.

If you are reading this and you know someone who ought to be included in The Faces of CHD, that’s great!  You can go HERE to learn all about the board and how to get a pin for someone you love.

And, if reading this makes you feel concerned about how serious heart defects can be detected early, please watch this CNN news clip about the importance of pulse oximetry screening for newborns.  We need more voices to demand legislation that will give babies a better chance for life.

(These are my two heart kids, Sariah and Lily)

So, fellow Remodelaholics, while you’re out there changing your wall colors and tearing out old carpet and tiling bathrooms this week, take a Pinterest break!  Click over to see The Faces of CHD and start pinning to raise awareness of the #1 Birth Defect.  You’re just a click away from doing something great today.

Thanks again, Cassity, for inviting me to share The Faces of CHD with your readers.