LETTERS: CONGENITAL HEART DEFECTS ARE MOSTLY IGNORED

To the editor:

Because it is February, we once again find acquired heart disease the focus of many news articles and advertisements. And once again we find that congenital heart disease is mostly ignored.

Congenital heart defects are the most common birth defect, and it is estimated that each year in the United States 40,000 babies are born with them. Congenital heart defects are still the leading cause of birth defect-related deaths, but because of medical advances an estimated 1.2 million American children and adults are today living with a congenital heart defect.

Hearts so malformed that vital parts of them are missing are being helped by surgeons. More and more heart babies are surviving their surgeries than ever before. However, many of these children face lifelong pediatric cardiologist visits and intervention procedures. Some will need more surgery as time goes by. Others eventually will need a heart transplant.

In an effort to bring more understanding to the issues faced by those affected by congenital heart defects, a group of parents of heart children, brought together by the Internet, contacted governors in each state. On Valentine's Day, hospitals around the country had blood drives, awareness seminars and activities for pediatric cardiology patients and their families.

It is hoped that efforts to educate the public about congenital heart defects will result in additional funding for research, early detection, support for parents and improved quality of care.

CLAIRE ELLINGHOUSE

Cape Girardeau