National Heart Month
CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE (CHD)
February is American Heart Month. It is a month to raise awareness for conditions that affect every heart, from neonatal patients to adults. Children’s of Alabama has one of the largest pediatric cardiovascular programs in the Southeast. Families of children who need specialized cardiovascular care can turn to the experts at the Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center of Alabama at Children’s.
The team at the Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center of Alabama provides pediatric cardiac care for more than 14,000 patients a year. In 2023, the staff performed more than 800 cardiac catheterizations and electrophysiology procedures and more than 425 surgical procedures, including three heart transplants. The overall survival rate for our program in 2023 was greater than 97%. The center includes 20 private cardiovascular intensive care (CVICU) rooms with four dedicated CV-ECMO suites, 16 private critical care unit (CCU) rooms, two cardiovascular operating rooms and two catheterization labs.
“Our multidisciplinary team of over 350 professionals who work at the Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center of Alabama are committed to providing superlative care for our patients,” said division director Yung Lau M.D. a pediatric cardiologist at Children’s and the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB). “Our results for both survivals, as well as complication rates, are among the best in the world. Regardless of the heart disease, Children’s of Alabama has developed the expertise to not only treat these patients but also support the family during this challenging time.”
This “heart hospital within a hospital” represents decades of tradition of superior cardiovascular clinical care and research dedicated solely to children. This single-care platform includes surgeons, intensivists, cardiologists, nurses, social workers, child life specialists, counselors, nutritionists, occupational and physical therapists and chaplains.
Congenital heart defects are the most common birth defect, and most have no known cause. Congenital heart disease (CHD) affects about 40,000 births annually in the United States. Nearly 1% of births per year are affected by CHD. It kills more children each year than all cancers combined and is the top killer of children born with developmental abnormalities. Survival of infants with CHD and other congenital defects depends on how severe the defect is when it is diagnosed, and how it is treated. Children’s is a leader in the treatment of CHD.
Throughout the month, Children’s is raising awareness about CHD and promoting the work done by the medical professionals at the Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center of Alabama. There are opportunities for anyone interested in supporting the center.
Events and Promotions:
- The Children’s Russell Building will be illuminated in red throughout February in honor of American Heart Month.
- You can send free greeting cards to patients in the hospital. Visit give.childrensal.org/valentinesday and select one of three Valentine’s Day card designs. Hospital staff will print the cards and distribute them to patients on Valentine’s Day. The card drive is sponsored by Spire, a proud supporter of Children’s since 2017. Spire will also match donations made by donors during this card drive up to $5,000.
Captain D’s Castin’ “N Catchin’- This annual fishing tournament raises money for the Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center of Alabama. It started out as a small idea among four patient families in 2016. It has grown into the largest charity bass fishing tournament in the nation, raising more than one million dollars for research, development and patient care. The fishing tournament will be held this year on April 20 at Goose Pond Colony Resort in Scottsboro. Visit www.castinncatchin.org to register.
- The Mending Kids’ Hearts Specialty Car Tag- Alabama residents can purchase or renew a specialty car tag. Proceeds from this car tag provide valuable funds for patient care, research and specialized physician training for the Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center of Alabama. The tag can be purchased at any Alabama Department of Motor Vehicle location for $50 in addition to your normal tag cost. $41.25 of the $50 will go to Children’s. For more information, visit www.childrensal.org/childrens-specialty-car-tags
- Join Kendra Scott in supporting patients like Jazz, and the Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center at Children’s of Alabama during Heart Month. To support, shop Jazz's designed necklace at the Kendra Scott Birmingham and Huntsville locations throughout the month of February and mention the partnership at checkout to support.
- Follow the Children’s of Alabama Facebook page, Twitter feed, and YouTube channel. Throughout the month of February, we will feature patient stories.
Donate to Pediatric & Congenital Heart Center of Alabama
INSIDE PEDIATRICS PODCAST
An Overview of Congenital Heart Disease
Camden Hebson, MD
Topic Info: Congenital heart disease is the most common birth defect, occurring in about 1% of all people. In this episode, pediatric cardiologist Dr. Camden Hebson describes some of the types of congenital heart disease and explains how screening and technological advances are helping.
PATIENT STORIES
Kelly Cash
Kelly Cash was born on March 23, 1983, and doctors soon realized the wall between the left and right sections of the heart had not closed and the mitral and tricuspid valves had not formed correctly, leaving the chambers open to each other.
Kelly's story
Arianna Hernandez
Bubbly, happy, joyful and a warrior—all words used to describe Arianna. On June 26, 2018, Arianna Hernandez entered the world as a healthy baby girl. Her mom, Verenice Aguilera, said she experienced a pregnancy without any complications.
Arianna's story
Davis Riddle
The influx of doctors to her hospital room caught Amy Riddle by surprise. She had just stepped out of the bathroom after her first postpartum shower, and everything with her newborn son, Davis, seemed fine. But the medical team brought bad news:
Davis' story
