A Video!! #CHD

 In case you haven't realised from the posts on here from the 7th till the 14th of February this past week has been Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week!! Go back and read about it if you haven't please....

CongenitalHeartDefects AwarenessWeek 2013 - The Facts!

Our CHD Story....Part One!

Our CHD Story....Part Two!

Pulse Oximetry screening!!

Somewhere…someplace…today!

A Charity Close To My Heart! CHUF

Sign up and let your family know your wishes!!

I hope over the last week I have raised some awareness and maybe someone now knows what a Congenital Heart Defect is that didn't before....

Today is the last day so thought I would finish the week with a video to raise awareness of Congenital Heart Defect's and the Children's Heart Unit Fund at the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne where both my girls were treated in 2009. 

Just a warning this video does show babies/children after surgery and some people may find it upsetting but just think how upsetting it is when it's your own child or for the children themselves!!

A Charity Close To My Heart! #CHUF #CHD

The history of the Children’s Heart Unit Fund (CHUF) dates back  to 1979 when an inspirational lady, Ann Scott, founded the Lesley Scott Memorial Fund in memory of her 2 year old daughter who died of a congenital heart anomaly. Single handed, Ann Raised sufficient money to buy a new two dimensional echo machine for the unit. Ann was then joined by other parents who wished to help raise more funds. In the early 1980’s Ann decided it was time to change the charities name and the Children’s Heart Unit Fund became the units registered charity. 

Around 300 small babies and children are operated on each year by the children’s heart surgeons at the Freeman Hospital. Out of 33,000 babies born in the Northern region each year, around 300 will require surgery and many more will require medical or outpatient treatment in the Children’s Heart Unit (Ward 23).

The aim of the charity is to raise money to buy equipment, facilities, aftercare and research for the Children's Heart Unit and the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at the Freeman Hospital. Small pieces of equipment help the nurses on the wards and larger items help doctors and surgeons undertake complex operations. Sometimes funds are used to help pay for medical and support staff, essential to the running of the unit and also for specialist resources to help children and their families. 

Somewhere…someplace… today… #CHD #CongenitalHeartDefects #AwarenessWeek

Wanted to share this poem. It really hits home for anyone that has walked this difficult road...

Somewhere…someplace… today…
A family is waiting to hear…
Is something wrong with their baby?
The answers aren’t quite clear…

This family has entered an unwanted world…
And they just don’t know what to expect…
Somewhere…someplace… today
They first heard the words: heart defect.

And how they hoped this was not true…
And thought… this cannot be…
I too… know just how this feels…
For one day…this was me.

Somewhere…someplace…today…
A man and a woman embrace…
Their baby is in surgery…
They long to see her face…

They haven’t got to hold her yet…
Without…a cord or line…
They pace the room awaiting news…
And hope she’ll be just fine.

Prayers fill this busy waiting room…
And mom and dad are scared…
Somewhere…someplace..today…
The tiniest hearts are repaired.

Somewhere…someplace…today…
A child’s growing fast…
Smiling,laughing,thriving…
His mom thinks…can this last?

It’s almost easy…to forget…
That anything is wrong…
Somewhere…someplace..today…
Her child seems so strong.

Somewhere…someplace… today…
A little boy fights…just to live
A father holds his tiny hand…
His love…all he can give…

The doctor’s are all baffled…
They fear that he might die…
Somewhere…someplace…today…
A family says goodbye…

Somewhere…someplace…each year..
More than 40,000 families will see…
What it means…when something’s wrong…
They’ll face a CHD.

Today…for just a moment…
Stop…remember…reflect…
Make time to tell someone you know…
“I’ve been changed by a heart defect.”

Author - Stephanie Husted

Meal Plan Monday!! #mealplanningmonday

Last week our meal plan went ok until Wednesday...We were at the dentist's (just a check up) so Spaghetti Bolognese was off the menu.....We ended up getting stuff out the freezer the kids had Fish & chips and me chicken and pasta covered in sweet & sour sauce....I came in from the dentists and put the food in the oven.....Went to get it out after about half and hour and I hadn't switched it on....Epic Fail!! So it was nearly 6.30pm by the time we had tea which is late for us!! We ended up having Spaghetti Bolognese on the Friday which wasn't too bad :)

This week seems a funny week with it been Pancake day & Valentines day....

Monday -  Fish fingers, chips & peas....

Tuesday - PANCAKES!!!
Wednesday - Chicken & coconut Curry with rice....
 Thursday - No idea as yet...It's valentines day & me & Stu usually kick the kids to bed early and have a fancy meal with candles, wine & yummy food....

 Friday - Pork Meatballs with spaghetti....

 Saturday - Burgers in buns with fries....

Sunday - Roast Chicken, mashed potato, carrots, peas, swede, parsnips & yorkshire Puddings....

As always I've joined in with the wonderful At Home With Mrs M's #mealplanningmonday linky HERE!