Did you know about a dozen kids are born with a dodgy ticker each week in Aotearoa?
That's twelve little new borns potentially struggling right from their very first breath.
The struggle doesn't end there.
For every battle that baby heart goes through just to keep on pumping there is a Mum, a Dad, a brother and sister, Nan and Pop and uncles, aunties, friends, all in the fight too.
As a whanau, as a group and as a community, they stand strong. What other option is there?
It is a sad, frightening, fearful and at times draining and very difficult fight.
But, it doesn't have to be a lonely one.
Heart Kids New Zealand don't receive any government funding.
What they do, for the babies, the children and their whanau, is done off their own backs.
Because they care. Because they can.
Friday the 12th is International Congenital Heart Defect Day.
Yep, it's a mouthful. Nothing compared to the lump on the throat which has to be swallowed when such a diagnosis comes in.
Check out https://heartkids.org.nz/get-involved
See if you can help.
Because you can.
Yes, I want everyone I can reach to donate ,for the steps I am taking on behalf of the good folk at Hear Kids, from one end of our beautiful nation to the next, right here on givealittle.
But it doesn't matter where the help comes from or how it gets there.
Heart Kids care and it is important there are people who care for them too.
A big thanks to those who have put their hands into their pockets already. Doing so makes me feel honouored and privileged.
I hope that generousity is reflected once I am on the trail (not long now!).
See you out there NZ...
