Charlotte
Lombard from Heart Kids SA spoke to us about Congenital Heart Defects, how
Heart Kids support families with babies that have CHD and their upcoming
fundraising event.
Heart
Kids was formed when Charlotte lost her grandson in 2014 to CHD. The condition
is usually picked up during pregnancy when the mother goes for the 22 weeks’
scan. In her daughter’s case, and many other people’s, it isn’t picked up until
after birth.
Congenital
Heart Defects means that the baby’s heart is either deformed and/or it does not
function normally. This malfunction occurs during the first 6 to 8 weeks of
conception. It can happen to any mother, even the healthiest. There is nothing that
can be done to prevent CHD.
Heart
Kids’ aim is to support the parents emotionally who go through this. They are
there for the new parents so that they can get advice and just someone to speak
to.
The
experience is very traumatic, the chances of these parents losing their babies
is high, especially because most of these hospitals do not do the procedures
and there are long waiting lists. 1 in every 100 babies is affect with CHD and
it is not cause of anything the mother does.
Heart
Kids will be hosting an Annual Dinner to raise funds and awareness. This will
be on 3 August @18h00, at Groote Schuur Hospital. The fee is R220 and this will
include a meal, and there will be speakers (a surgeon, a mom, a survivor).
You can contact Heart Kids on the below:
Website: www.heartkids.co.za
Email: info@heartkids.co.za
Tel: 0711493570
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