February 7 – February 14 is recognized annually as CHD Awareness Week. Congenital Heart Defects are the most common birth defects, nearly 40,000 babies are born each year in the U.S. with a CHD. Carter Bley was 1:100 babies born with a congenital heart defect. Carter was born with transposition of the great arteries with a ventricular septal defect and [...]
Blair Sucher says she was destined to become a mother her whole life. On July 17, 2017, her and her husband welcomed Robert "Jones" Sucher into the world. They were overcome with joy and could not wait for the journey ahead. However, the next year would bring hardship as they found out about Jones’ congenital heart defect and the need for [...]
Throughout 2019, the American Heart Association will be launching a series of videos highlighting key community events and efforts. Through programs at the community level, the American Heart Association is carrying out their mission of being a relentless force for longer, healthier lives. From blood pressure initiatives to local research studies, the fight against heart disease is in full swing [...]
Richmond, VA - Three year old, Finn Blumenthal, will serve as a national ambassador for American Heart Association's Kids Heart Challenge! Since 2016, Finn and his mom, Kelly, have helped local schools raise funds for the American Heart Association. This year, the American Heart Association chose Finn to be a national ambassador for the program, now in its 40th year and [...]
Volunteers around the country are helping raise awareness of of heart disease, the number one killer of Americans, and congenital heart defects, the most common type of birth defect in the country by knitting and crocheting little red hats to be given out through the American Heart Association's Little Hats, Big Hearts. The Mid-Atlantic Affiliate is proud to be continuing the [...]
Four months pregnant with her second child, Nykia Ward walked into her doctor’s office eager to learn the sex of her baby during her appointment that day. After the joy of discovering she was carrying a girl that she would name Kaycee, the doctor presented her with some concerning information. A bright spot appeared on Kaycee’s heart during the ultrasound. [...]
Little Hats, Big Hearts at First Health Little Hats, Big Hearts made a splash this February with babies in 52 hospitals across the state going red. The American Heart Association and the Children’s Heart Foundation teamed up this year to spread the message of congenital heart defects (CHD), the most common type of birth defect in the country. [...]
Last month, the American Heart Association’s #LittleHatsBigHearts program was trending on social media. All that buzz has led to a flurry of knitters and crocheters from across the affiliate looking to donate hats to help raise awareness of congenital heart disease and to empower moms to live heart healthy lives while encouraging their children to do the same. Little Hats, [...]
#LittleHatsBigHearts is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s campaign, in connection with The Children’s Heart Foundation, to collect knitted or crocheted red baby hats. The hats will be distributed to babies born in hospitals across the country during February, which is American Heart Month. Last year, we collected over 5,900 hats and delivered hats to 98 hospitals throughout the Mid-Atlantic Affiliate [...]
On June 2nd we held our 6th Annual Go Red For Women Luncheon. We had record attendance this year filling the room to capacity. This year we were challenged by Kelly Blumenthal, whose son was born with a congenital heart defect, to #DanceWithFinn...and boy did we dance. #DanceWithFinn is a movement challenging those you love to video their dance moves, [...]
