Eden's Heart: Welcoming February with open hearts

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Welcoming February with open hearts

(Not my picture)

Even more important than being the month for lovers, February is the official American Heart Month. Eden and I love hearts of all kinds and we'll take any excuse to celebrate and cherish the healthy hearts in our lives. We have already pulled out the heart decor and planned a few fun crafts. We will also be wearing red everyday, participating in some sort of exercise (everyday!), and cutting back on the animal products in our food. And last, but not least, we have the huge goal of finally writing to her donor family.

Stay tuned as we'll include you on this journey....

P.S. Does jumping on the bed count as exercise?

"Congenital heart defects are the #1 cause of birth defect related deaths. 1 in 3 children who die from a birth defect have a congenital heart defect."

1 comment:

Erin Murphy said...: I didn't know you were going to write to her heart donor's family!! Let me know how this goes -you will be great!; February 3, 2011 at 9:15 AM

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What is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, is one of the four main types of cardiomyopathy. Characterized by the abnormal growth of muscle fibers on the heart muscle, HCM often results in a thickened septum and/or left and right ventricle. The thickening of the muscle can result in a resistance of blood flow both in and out of the heart’s chambers. When this occurs, the heart must work harder to pump blood throughout the body.

While perceived to be somewhat rare, HCM affects an estimated one in 500 people. It is the number one reason for heart transplants and the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in people under age 30. HCM may be best known for its role in cardiac arrest and subsequent death in some young professional athletes. The cause of HCM is largely unknown, however current research suggests it is genetic in origin.