COURT HOUSE – Aidan Crowding of Court House celebrates his ninth birthday in a special way.
His birthday wish, to spread awareness for congenital heart defects (CHDs), of which he is a survivor. Crowding was diagnosed before he was born with a congenital heart defect called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), the left side of his heart never formed.
His parents, like most, had never heard of congenital heart defects despite it being the most common type of birth defect according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
CHDs affect approximately 1 percent of births annually, or around 40,000 children, in the United States, but awareness is extremely low. Crowding’s symptoms are not visible but his struggles have been huge, including multiple open-heart surgeries, a pacemaker and frequent visits to hospitals and doctors.
Despite congenital heart defects being the leading cause of birth defect-related deaths worldwide, awareness is extremely low and Crowding hopes to change that.
His birthday happens to fall during Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week which runs February 7-14. CHD Awareness Week is an annual awareness effort to help educate the public about congenital heart defects.
Aidan and his mother, Mary, found their way to celebrate his birthday this year, Aidan’s third grade class at Middle Township Elementary School will be painting T-shirts to raise awareness for congenital heart defects. Not only will Aidan celebrate his birthday, but spread awareness at the same time making his special day even more special.
With awareness for congenital heart defects being so low, the Crowdings’ biggest struggle has been fear of the unknown. With more awareness, more research and knowledge will be available for those have CHD.
After speaking with Crowding’s mother, it became clear how easy it is to forget the struggles that so many people face on a daily basis, including those in the local community like Aidan.
For information about CHDs and to further Crowding’s birthday wish by spreading awareness, more information is available at websites including: Heart.org and LittleHearts.org.
To contact Johanna Hovik, email jhovik@cmcherald.com.
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