I think most of the time when we think of heart disease or heart defects, we think older, elderly people. But, the very word congenital means from birth. It means that about 40,000 babies are born in the US alone with a congenital heart defect each year. Think about how many are born all over the world. And if those babies are blessed enough to live in a country that has advanced medical technology, they are possibly able to live, able to survive past the first few hours and days of life. Possibly. Millions of people in the US are thought be living with CHD. Some cases are obviously more severe than others but, we don't have trackers implanted in us, so I don't think anyone can get an exact number.
Still, as of now,there is no cure. Heart disease is the number one killer among woman and CHD pays no mind to gender, race, or religion. We live in a fallen world where sickness and disease have come as a result of the fall. God told Adam and Eve in the garden that there were be immeasurable consequences for their sins, and our world today is exactly that. Yet, God is still good. He takes even the worst situations and uses it for good. He gave us brilliant minds, doctors, researchers, chemists, pharmacist, and more...all who are working to bring about healing, comfort, and providing hope in a world where we would otherwise be hopeless. God doesn't enjoy sitting around watching suffer, He enjoys watching use what He's given us to make the world we live in an even better place for those yet to come.
Still, as of now,there is no cure. Heart disease is the number one killer among woman and CHD pays no mind to gender, race, or religion. We live in a fallen world where sickness and disease have come as a result of the fall. God told Adam and Eve in the garden that there were be immeasurable consequences for their sins, and our world today is exactly that. Yet, God is still good. He takes even the worst situations and uses it for good. He gave us brilliant minds, doctors, researchers, chemists, pharmacist, and more...all who are working to bring about healing, comfort, and providing hope in a world where we would otherwise be hopeless. God doesn't enjoy sitting around watching suffer, He enjoys watching use what He's given us to make the world we live in an even better place for those yet to come.
In my 29ish years of life I've had the privilege of meeting quite a few people with living with a CHD, and most of the time, I didn't know they had a Congenital Heart Defect just by looking at them. Our hospital war stories don't make good lunch room conversation, and our numerous scars our usually hidden. We don't want to people to see us struggling to catch our breath walking from the parking lot to the entrance of the mall or know about the exhaustion we feel because of the humidity outside during our 4th of July picnic. Most people who meet me are shocked to hear, 'I was born with half of my heart...' because looking at me you would never know. I don't "look sick" or "look diseased" but I very much am. Every day I fight (and I beat) the odds that CHD has stacked against me. So, during February, I'm going to let you know about my fight. I'm gong let you know about how I'm living with a practically unseen disease. I'm going to tell my story and hopefully hear some of your stories. I'm going to share pictures, I'm going to tell war stories, and I'm going to share the good and I'm going to share the bad of CHD. I'm going to let the world (or at least the part of the world that I am connected to) about CHD. I'm going to spread awareness and I'm going to raise awareness for people with CHD, people like ME!
Happy Heart Month!
With all my half of a heart,
Emmy
:)
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