The 3rd Annual Roar and Walk for Little Hearts took place at Morraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills this past Sunday 05/31/15. Although the weather was a bit gloomy, rainy and chilly it didn't stop hundreds of people getting together to raise awareness for Congenital Heart Disease and help Mended Little Hearts of Chicago. I as a mother to a heart warrior felt privileged to be able to capture the moments of this day. There were smiles and laughter to celebrate the triumphs of our children and there were tears and sorrow as we remembered those thats battle with CHD had ended far too soon. 

The rest of the gallery can be found on: ROAR & Walkenamoredbykuki.zenfolio.com

If you'd like to learn more on how you can help spread awareness, take part in support groups, make a donation or providing items for care bags please check out www.mlhchicago.org

A few Statistics:

• CHDs are the most common birth defects. CHDs occur in almost 1% of births.
• Nearly 40,000 infants in the U.S. are born each year with CHDs.
• Approximately two to three million individuals are thought to be living in the United States with CHDs. Because there is no U.S. system to track CHDs beyond early childhood, more precise estimates are not available.
• CHDs are the most common cause of infant death due to birth defects.
• Approximately 25% of children born with a CHD will need heart surgery or other interventions to survive.
• Over 85% of babies born with a CHD now live to at least age 18.
• Surgery is often not a cure for CHDs. Many individuals with CHDs require additional operation(s) and/or medications as adults.
• People with CHDs face a life-long risk of health problems such as issues with growth and eating, developmental delays, difficulty with exercise, heart rhythm problems, heart failure, sudden cardiac arrest or stroke.