Cora’s first month in heaven

How different that must be from our last month on earth.  Cora and her mom, Kristine have touched many, many people in 30 short days.  And for that I am grateful.

For every single voice shouting about heart defects, there are dozens, hundreds, or thousands that listen.

Awareness is word that gets thrown around alot.  Will just making people “aware” make people take action?  I don’t have all the answers.  And every time I look at my daughter I wonder if the time spent yelling at the top of my lungs and traveling to talk about heart defects isn’t time better spent cuddling with her.  Reading a book with her.  Just being thankful that she is still with us.

But then I remember….she IS the reason.  The reason for all the yelling, ranting and raving about 1in100 babies born with a congenital heart defect.  Eve, in her divine existence brought us on this journey.

I’ve asked myself many times if I would be doing this is Eve hadn’t survived.  I don’t know the answer.  But I do know how much I respect Cora’s mom, Aiden’s dad, and the thousands of others that buried their heart children in 2009.  Somehow hundreds of those parents picked themselves up off the ground and get busy trying to stop that horror from EVER happening to another family.

So today – in honor of you, dear Cora…who I never met…but will forever carry the image of you in my heart, I promise to keep at it.  In 2010, I make you the solemn vow that FEWER babies will die because doctors, moms and dads didn’t know their heart was in trouble.  They will be screened and diagnosed and given a fighting chance.

For the 11 babies in the US and nearly 300 worldwide who will lose their battle today, I hope you welcome them into your beautiful home above.  And please keep showing us the way.  Happy 1 month birthday in heaven.