Mississippi March of Dimes, Go Red for Women, Pulse Ox Mississippi, and You’re the Cure Advocacy working Together for Tiny Hearts

"A new baby is like the beginning of all things - wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities."                                   --Eda J. LeShan

In February 2014, I had the privilege of co-hosting the Central Mississippi March of Dimes Telethon, the ONLY March of Dimes Telethon still televised in 2014 in the United States. And yes, the telethon takes place at the Greenville, Mississippi Convention Center, is televised for two days by WABG-TV in Greenville, MISSISSIPPI, and can be seen by anyone on television or online at www.wabgtv.com. I was so excited to be asked to co-host a portion of the telethon because I have been watching the Mississippi March of Dimes Telethon for the over 30 years that it has been in existence.

I was also thrilled to co-host because I am a Hero Advocate for the American Heart Association You're the Cure. Mississippi March of Dimes, Pulse Ox Mississippi, and Mississippi You're the Cure Volunteers (like me) are all working diligently together, uniting our voices to conquer Critical Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD), the No. 1 killer of newborns with a birth defect. To date 37 State Legislatures have passed laws requiring Pulse Oximetry (Pulse Ox) Screening for CCHD of newborns before they leave the hospital, and our Mississippi legislature has yet to pass a Pulse Ox Screening Law.

Because Mississippi is NOT one of these states, efforts are underway to have Pulse Ox Screening added to the screening panel that is used to test all newborns before they leave a Mississippi Hospital. Pulse ox is a simple non-invasive screening that, when performed on newborns in the delivery area of a hospital, effectively detects life-threatening heart defects that can otherwise go unnoticed using current screening methods. In order to save Mississippi's babies born with CCHD, we need more Mississippi You're the Cure Advocates reaching out to their state elected officials to ensure that a Pulse Ox Law is passed during the 2015 Mississippi Legislative session.

I had the privilege during American Heart Month in late February 2014 to be a guest of the 10th Anniversary MS Gulf Coast Go Red for Women Luncheon in Biloxi, MS. As I was walking into the Luncheon Meeting area, I to met two beautiful 10 year old girls who were survivors of Congenital Heart Disease. One of the 10 year olds, Abby Bass and I, became close friends very quickly. When Abby was born, her parents were told that she was a well baby. But her pediatrician decided to use Pulse Ox Screening (although he didn't have to do so) to make sure that Abby's heart was good to go. Because this doctor chose to use Pulse Ox Screening, he found that Abby had a very severe Congenital Heart Defect of the Aorta. Abby had open heart surgery when she was only 4 days old. After her surgery, she almost died as a new born, and was hooked up to all types of medical machines and a ventilator for the next five weeks of her life. She was able to eventually go home, but had to have a second open heart surgery at 18 months old. Today, Abby is a normal, healthy 10 year old little girl. I am so grateful that I had the chance to meet and talk (a lot) with Abby before the Gulf Coast Go Red Luncheon began. She impacted my life with her girlishness, normality, and survivor spirit! We need Pulse Ox Screening to become a standard part of new born screening tests in Mississippi!

                     

I am so thankful that I am the mother of two beautiful, healthy daughters, who were healthy newborns. I met so many parents and their children at the March of Dimes telethon and at the Mississippi Go Red for Women Luncheon and Fashion Show just a few weeks ago in mid-May 2014. Little boys were running around, playing like normal, healthy children; and then, I would see the heart surgery scar on their chest. As I spoke to several mothers, fathers, and grandparents of these precious children, I learned that these children still had more difficult heart by-pass surgeries to go through. It broke my heart, yet I smiled because the parents and children were so happy to model as "Survivors" in the Go Red Fashion Show.

 

         

Mississippians, I am asking you to join with me, Pulse Ox Mississippi, the Mississippi AHA, March of Dimes, and You're the Cure to ensure that all of our newborns have the chance to live productive lives using a test as simple as the Pulse Oximetry Screening Test.

-Be the Cure

-Living Chronically Content

-Philippians 4:11-12

Angie Russell Irvin

Mrs. Mississippi International 2014

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