CHD Week ~ Guest Blogger ~ Cora's Story

This week {2/7/10-2/14/10} Congenital Heart Disease (or defect) week.  You hear about this stuff but NEVER think it will happen to your child.  I unfortunately was almost too late with my little Ella on discovering that she had a heart defect, a heart defect that almost took her from me... but it didn't.

Almost 2 months ago I met Kristine on Twitter.  The circumstances of why I started following her were not good, but I can't begin to explain how happy I did get the chance to follow her.  Kristine has become a very special person in my life, and if it wasn't for Cora, she wouldn't be in it.

Kristine had to learn the extremely hard way all about CHD {Congenital Heart Disease}.  She didn't get as lucky as I did with my Ella, because her Cora died at 5 days old.

Kristine and Cora are saving lives and trying to get heard on ways that we can prevent situations like what they had to go through happen.  They are saving lives one pulse oximetry test at a time.

I am so blessed and pleased to have Kristine guest posting here today at Garibay Soup ~ Enjoy, and please help her and Cora out by saving lives!!  

My defected baby. Looks can be deceiving.

I know, I know. She looks perfect.

She was perfect. No prenatal problems. Given a clean bill of health when we left the hospital.

But, then she died. Out of nowhere. In my arms. 
While breastfeeding.

Turns out my daughter, Cora, was born with a congenital heart disease. I’d never heard of it.

Turns out, congenital heart diseases, or defects, are the number one birth defect. That 1 in 100 babies are born with a defect.

But, their hearts aren’t tested. A simple pulse oximetry test to measure the baby’s oxygen level can screen for 
CHDs and save lives.

This week is Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Week. Spend a few moments researching and reading about it. I sure wish I had.

Kristine Brite McCormick writes about Cora (almost) daily on her blog {http://www.corasstory.org} If not on her blog, she can be found on Twitter, {@kristinebrite} or Cora’s Facebook Fan page, {http://www.facebook.com/pages/Coras-Story/224020688142?ref=nf} telling Cora’s Story. 


Follow Kristine for more information about congenital heart disease or to learn more about the acts of compassion and kindness Cora has inspired.