Buffalo Family Raises Awareness About Congenital Heart Defects | Events

It's a subject near and dear to Christina Kunze's heart... Her three-year-old son Eddie has a congenital heart defect and already in his short, little life, he's gone through more surgeries than most people go through in a lifetime.

That's why his mom asked Buffalo Mayor Brad Naumann to proclaim this week, "Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week" in the city.   The Mayor announced the proclamation on Monday at the Buffalo City Council meeting.  Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton has also made the proclamation for the entire state.  One out of every 100 babies is born with a malformed heart in the U.S.

Christina says her toddler had his first surgery in 2007 when he was only 10 days old--open heart surgery that is, to begin repairing his "plumbing" problems.  He had another surgery in May of 2009.  Doctors put bands on his pulmonary arteries to restrict the blood flow of his heart.  In February, 2009, another repair--cardiologists repaired Eddie's aorta because he had a spot that wasn't growing.  Eddie will have another surgery this summer...and Christina doesn't know what could happen next.

The boy's heart defect was discovered on the day he was born.  "If people only knew about it ahead of time," Christina says.  She encourages pregnant women to make sure their doctors take a good look at the fetus' heart with an ultrasound.

Today, Eddie must have physical therapy, because Christina says he doesn't have the strength of a child his age.  His lips get blue and he has clubbing in his fingers and toes.

Christina is anxious to get the word out.  A mother of five, she says she does what she can at home on the internet and talks with other parents on Facebook.  She points to the Congenital Heart Information Network, which encourages parents to contact their public officials to help raise awareness. 

To see Eddie's Caring Bridge page, click here.

For more information about the Congenital Heart Information Network, click here.