Having a child or sibling with a congenital heart defect (CHD) can be difficult for parents, caregivers and families. Through Kids at Heart, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta offers heart families a chance to come together with other families and share similar experiences.
Kids at Heart is a support program for parents, caregivers and families of patients with CHDs who are treated at Children’s. The Kids at Heart Program is sponsored by Chick-fil-A and other gracious donors and offers social, emotional, and educational support programs to help heart families inside and outside of the hospital setting.
CHD Awareness Week is held each year from Feb. 7-14 to recognize children and adults living with congenital heart disease, celebrate their journey and increase public awareness of these heart conditions.
Congenital heart diseases, also known as congenital heart defects or CHDs, are birth defects that affect the structure of a baby’s heart and the way it works. It is the most common birth defect, with approximately 1% of newborns born with a CHD each year. Of those born with a CHD, 1 in 4 infants typically need surgery or other procedures in their first year of life. CHD treatment helps kids live into adulthood, and today, there are more than 2.4 million heart warriors, or children and adults living with CHDs, in the U.S.
For more information follow along on the Kids at Heart Facebook page and #CHDChildrensATL. To donate please click here.