The Cardiac Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Recognizes Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) Awareness Week
Philadelphia, Pa. (Vocus/PRWEB) February 08, 2011
More than one million children and adults in the U.S. are living today with congenital heart defects and are an incredible example of the power of the advances in surgical and medical care and research efforts. As a family member or friend of a child or adult with a congenital heart defect (CHD), you have an incredible story to share.
The Cardiac Center at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia kicks off Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Week and invites families and individuals whose lives have been touched by congenital heart disease to advocate, fundraise and share your personal story to raise awareness of congenital heart disease and support research efforts at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. A specialized toolkit has been developed to help families and individuals become CHD Champions.
This advocacy toolkit includes tips on how to raise awareness about CHD by sharing your story or fundraiser with the media, reaching out to legislators or writing an editorial for your local newspaper. The toolkit was developed to partner with our families and the larger community to make a difference in raising awareness about congenital heart disease.
“Awareness and funding of CHD is vital to the development of new and better treatments and to continue to search for the causes of congenital heart disease,” said Robert Shaddy, M.D., chief of the division of Cardiology at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia “Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Week brings pediatric issues to the forefront, and I invite everyone to partner with the Cardiac Center to raise awareness that children’s heart issues are extremely important.”
The Cardiac Center is one of the largest centers in the world dedicated to caring for patients of all ages with CHD with 24,000 outpatient visits, 1,500 inpatient admissions, more than 1,000 cardiac catheterizations and more than 900 surgical procedures annually. The Cardiac Center offers the most cutting-edge surgical and interventional treatments available for children with heart defects, many of which have been pioneered by CHOP physician-scientists.
Babies who are prenatally diagnosed with a congenital heart defect may be delivered in the Garbose Family Special Delivery Unit, the world’s first delivery unit exclusively for babies with congenital conditions.
The Cardiac Center staff is a team composed of pediatric and adult cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists, cardiac nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, social workers, respiratory therapists, child life specialists, operating room technicians and many others who are dedicated exclusively to providing a continuum of care for patients of all ages with CHD, fetus through adult.
Join Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in recognizing Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Week, February 7-14, 2011.
Become a CHD Champion. Make a difference. Visit heart.chop.edu for the tool kit and more information.
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The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA (Vocus/PRWEB) March 16, 2011
An international group of over 300 medical experts gathers today to discuss the most current advances in prenatal diagnosis and treatment of birth defects.
About one in every 33 babies born each year in the United States has some type of major birth defect. Birth defects are also the leading cause of infant death.
The Update on Prenatal Diagnosis and Treatment of Fetal Anomalies conference occurs in Philadelphia today through March 19. Sponsored by the Center for Fetal Diagnosis and the Division of Pediatric General, Thoracic and Fetal Surgery at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the conference is one of the largest, multi-disciplinary courses devoted to advances in the diagnosis and treatment of a broad spectrum of fetal anomalies.
“Since its inception in 1995, the mission of the Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia has been to provide comprehensive, state-of-the- art care for both mother and fetus. The Center is pleased to sponsor this four-day multidisciplinary educational forum to exchange the most current research and practice innovations in this field, ” said N. Scott Adzick, M.D., Surgeon-in-Chief at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and co-founder and director of Children’s Hospital’s Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment.
In celebration of the Center’s 15th anniversary, the conference highlights significant evolution and innovation in the field of fetal therapy. This year’s conference will bring together experts from prenatal through postnatal management of mothers, fetuses and children with fetal anomalies and present the latest breakthroughs in care – from genetic testing and fetal intervention to support for families and long-term postnatal outcomes. Only last month, for instance, a landmark, federally sponsored clinical trial, co-led by the Center, reported substantially improved outcomes in children who underwent prenatal surgery for spina bifida.
“This conference highlights the remarkable progress in diagnosing, managing and treating a broad variety of birth defects, which are increasingly being detected in the prenatal period,” said course director, Mark P. Johnson, M.D., director of Obstetrical Services at the Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment.
Obstetricians, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, surgeons, neonatologists, cardiologists, anesthesiologists, radiologists, urologists, nursing professionals, genetic counselors, geneticists, sonographers and social workers from 28 states and 12 countries will participate in the four-day conference. Over 70 individual presentations will take place including a comprehensive review of specific congenital anomalies, such as central nervous system defects, congenital diaphragmatic hernias, chest masses, gastrointestinal and genitourinary defects, congenital heart disease, and twin-twin transfusion syndrome.
The Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is an internationally recognized leader in fetal surgery and fetal care. One of the only programs of its kind in the world, it offers a comprehensive breadth of services, including fetal therapy, to support patients from prenatal evaluation through delivery, postnatal care, and long-term follow-up. Established in 1995, the Center has welcomed more than 10,000 expectant parents and received referrals from all 50 states and more than 50 countries. Its multidisciplinary team brings decades of experience to the care and treatment of the fetus and the expectant mother. The Center has performed nearly 800 fetal surgeries, including complex open procedures for birth defects such as spina bifida; less invasive fetoscopic or ultrasound-guided surgeries for conditions such as twin-twin transfusion syndrome; and specialized coordinated delivery approaches for babies that require surgical intervention while still on maternal-placental life support (EXIT delivery). To facilitate its full spectrum of care, the Center is also home to the Garbose Family Special Delivery Unit, the world’s first birthing unit created exclusively for pregnancies complicated by birth defects. For more information, please visit: fetalsurgery.chop.edu.
About The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation’s first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals and pioneering major research initiatives, Children’s Hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country, ranking third in National Institutes of Health funding. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the 516-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information visit: http://www.chop.edu.
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(PRWEB) July 22, 2005
The Luke Neuhedel Foundation has created gold wristbands to increase awareness of children’s cancer. The wristbands are designed by LNF co-founder and President, Rebecca Tolson-Neuhedel. The wristbands are gold, the color adopted by children’s cancer awareness charities, and proclaim “…Because Pediatric Cancer Should Be an Oxymoron” the slogan for LNF, written by LNF co-founder and officer Paul Neuhedel. The wristbands also display LNF’s signature “smiley face” and website, www.lukefund.org. The gold wristband is available only from LNF at www.lukefund.org for $ 2.00 each. All funds raised from the Wristband Project are given to children fighting cancer in the form of grants.
The Luke Neuhedel Foundation was founded in 2002 in memory of Luke Neuhedel, son of Paul and Rebecca, who died at age 3 from hepatoblastoma. Hepatoblastoma ia a rare children’s liver cancer that affects less than one in a million children in the US every year, usually diagnosed before age 1 and most often found in boys. LNF was founded by Luke’s parents in response to their introduction into the world of pediatric cancer and their desire to help make the journey easier for other parents. LNF provides direct grants to families across the US whose child is diagnosed with cancer. Patients needing assistance may submit a brief application (available from LNF by contacting Rebecca at 516-882-9183) through their hospital social worker. LNF is pleased to have never turned down a child’s request for aid, and hopes that the Wristband Project and other LNF Programs will provide the funds to continue the support families desperately need.
LNF is unique among 501c3 charities in that all activities, fundraisers, and projects are completed by volunteers, most of whom knew Luke but by some who never met him. LNF does not spend any funds raised on salaries, benefits, oroffice space because the Neuhedels donate their home as the LNF headquarters and reach out to the community for volunteers. LNF has been able to help families struck by cancer by paying for medical treatment, food, phone and tv rental, rent and mortgage payments, and funeral expenses. Forty-six children a day in the US are diagnosed with cancer, and 15 children a day die from their cancer, so there is never an end to the children needing help.
LNF welcomes donations of any amount at any time. LNF also has many programs for all ages that can be accomplished from any location; LNF has worked with volunteers in the US and Europe on projects to raise funds for LNF. Rebecca Neuhedel, educated as an educator and librarian, has designed many programs for school-aged children to get involved in helping their peers in need. Please see what’s available at www.lukefund.org, or contact LNF directly at LNF, PO Box 137, Massapequa Park NY 11762/516-882-9183.
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Playa del Rey Toy Drive to collect items for Childrens Hospital, local animal shelters
The seventh annual Playa del Rey Toy Drive will be collecting toys for the upcoming holidays for the Childrens Hospital Los Angeles as well as accepting items for local animal shelters to help animals in their care.
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