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Spread Heart Health Awareness This Month

Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors, February 2022

February is often considered the month of love when we send our significant others or family members heart-themed cards and heart-shaped chocolates. This month we can also give another gift to our loved ones — taking care of our hearts. 

Back in 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson was among the millions of people in the United States to suffer a heart attack. That year, he declared the first American Heart Month to tackle heart disease in the United States. Every February since then has been designated as National Heart Month, a time to spread heart health awareness and encourage heart-healthy lifestyles. From neonatal patients to adults who have been battling congenital heart disease for decades, it’s a month to raise awareness for conditions that affect every heart. 

Statistics about heart disease can be alarming, but there is no need to panic. Research shows that lifestyle changes can greatly reduce your risk. Whether it’s preparing heart-healthy meals and eating healthier, working out or quitting smoking, you can make everyday changes to improve your overall heart health. A good place to find a list of resources and partnerships is on the American Heart Association’s website. They have plenty of tools to help you learn how to make healthy changes.

American Heart Month is also the perfect time to learn more about Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) in children and to spread awareness about it to your family and friends. CHD is a term used to describe many different structural problems that affect the heart and is one of the most common birth defects, affecting 1 in 120 babies born in the United States each year.

The most common types of CHDs are ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, tetralogy of fallot, single ventricle defect, pulmonary valve stenosis, patent ductus arteriosus, transposition of the great arteries, and aortic valve stenosis. Of the many babies born with CHD, many will require intervention, such as surgery, during their first year of life. 

Local mom Michelle McDowell understands firsthand what it is like to have a child with CHD. Her daughter Gabrielle was born in 2008 with two types of heart defects: a ventricular septal defect and a tetralogy of fallot.

Gabrielle underwent surgery at just five days old to repair a hole in the wall between the two lower ventricles. By age four, she had three additional surgeries and she’s had eleven cardiac catheterizations, a procedure that allows doctors to see how blood is flowing through the heart chambers and arteries. During this procedure, the doctor uses special tools to fix the heart defect.

For Michelle, those early years of handling Gabrielle’s numerous cardiac appointments and surgeries was a very emotional time. “It was a difficult time because when Gabrielle was a newborn, I wasn’t even able to hold her,” explained Michelle. “And when she was young, I felt isolated because as a young mom I didn’t have a lot of friends who had children yet, let alone one who had special needs.”

It was a chance meeting through the Marple Moms Club when Gabrielle was a toddler that initially led Michelle to find more support in the CHD community. “Finding another local mom to connect with whose child also had CHD was so helpful,” said Michelle. “It was nice to have someone to talk to that understood the unique challenges we were facing.”

At that time she also got involved with fundraising efforts through the Children’s Heart Foundation, an organization dedicated to funding CHD research, and Mended Little Hearts, who not only provide ongoing peer-to-peer support, education, and advocacy but also provide Bravery Bags for children in the hospital. Bravery Bags are filled with toiletries, comfort items, fun activities, and educational resources for families who may be facing a long hospital stay.

Over the years, Michelle has participated in numerous fundraisers for these CHD organizations as well the Philly-Spin-In, which raises funds for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s (CHOP) Cardiac Center. “I’m proud to have gotten involved in fundraising for CHD,” said Michelle. “Not only have I met friends that feel like family, but we’ve been able to raise awareness that has led to advances in research, treatment and care for children.”

Today, thanks to a great team at CHOP, Gabrielle is a thriving 14-year-old who attends the Stratford Friends School in Newtown Square and enjoys gymnastics and spending time with friends. 

So, as we get ready to celebrate this month of love, don’t forget to do something to honor your own heart this month. Whether it is making a lifestyle change for your own health or spreading awareness about CHD, there are many ways to help yourself and others. 

Visit www.ChildrensHeartFoundation.org, www.MendedHearts.org and www.Heart.org to find fundraising opportunities in our area as well as plenty of resources to help you learn more about taking care of your heart.