Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) Awareness

This #HeartMonth, we want to bring attention to the most common birth defect in the U.S., affecting 1 in every 100 pregnancies. 

February 7-14 is Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) Awareness Week, a diagnosis close to one of our team member’s hearts. Tiffany’s son Archie was diagnosed with hypoplastic right heart syndrome (HRHS) when she was 18 weeks pregnant. “This syndrome is 100% fatal if left alone, it required not one but three open-heart surgeries before age four, and it cannot be fully “fixed”. It left us in a place of intense fear, devastation, and anger.” 

Tiffany was told the worst-case scenarios and how this diagnosis could impact Archie’s quality of life. “I can honestly say it has been one rollercoaster ride that we are not off of yet and will likely never be. HRHS isn’t one specific diagnosis, just like CHD isn’t one specific diagnosis. There are numerous possibilities. Archie has tricuspid atresia, multiple VSDs, ASD, and pulmonary artery stenosis. I did everything right in my pregnancy, and genetic testing came back with no genetic explanation on why this happened. We are so blessed with Archie; he is such an amazing baby and a true fighter!” 

Archie had his first open-heart surgery on January 11, and he still has one more open-heart surgery that will be done when he is between 3-6 years old. “Heart Month isn’t just about heart disease and heart attacks, it’s about the tiny hearts too…the ones that came into this world already broken.” 

Thank you so much for sharing Archie’s story, Tiffany. 

Learn more about CHD: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/heartdefects/facts.html.