I’ve mentioned before how I have met some amazing and wonderful people through my blog.  I have been given the opportunity to create more social good through my blog and other social media platforms with the Global Team of 200.

What an amazing journey… and it hasn’t even been a year yet!

One of my fellow Global Team mom’s has a cause that is near and dear to her heart that I would like to pass on.  Kristine Brite McCormick is the founder of a non-profit called Cora’s Story.  You can read more about Cora here.

Cora died in Kristine’s arms a few days after her birth from a newborn heart defect.

I read this story and cried.  My kids had this test soon after my c-section.  I honestly don’t know if it was because they were twins and we had a difficult pregnancy, or if it is a hospital policy.

This year, Kristine has launched the Newborn Heart Defect Screening Awareness Day.  This day is to bring awareness and understanding to soon-to-be parents and friends/families of these parents that this defect exists and is easily– and inexpensively– tested at the hospital after birth.  I signed the pledge and I encourage you to sign as well.  You are simply pledging to ask for the testing for your baby at birth or to encourage soon to be mother to request the testing.

Heart defects are the most common birth defects in newborn babies.  1 in 100 babies are affected.  Only about half are discovered prior to birth. (1)

When I signed the pledge, I was number 921.  They are aiming for 5000.  Help spread the word.  Take the pledge.

Encourage moms-to-be to request Pulse Ox screening.
November 30 is Newborn Heart Defect Screening Awareness Day

 

(1) http://babyheartscreening.com/November30/what-is-newborn-heart-defect-screening/

 

Julia
Julia wants to live in a world where Hogwarts is real, dark chocolate is packaged with good books, and houses clean themselves. Until then, she is the divorced mom of twins, blogger, sometimes crafter, traveler, napper, cooker, snail mailer, geocacher, and corporate bean counter.