Calling on Congress to Support Research, Not Red Tape
Conquering CHD is urging Senators to support Illinois Senator Durbin’s Amendment #4369 to S. 2943, the fiscal year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act. By eliminating Sections 756 and 898 of the legislation, this amendment will ensure that the critical, cutting-edge congenital heart disease research happening at the Department of Defense (DoD) can continue.
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect and leading cause of related infant mortality. Even those who receive successful intervention are not cured. Children and adults with CHD face ongoing, costly, specialized care, and face a lifelong risk of permanent disability and premature death.
DoD-sponsored medical research related to CHD directly impacts the health and lives of the U.S. military, veterans and their families. As just one example, researchers are investigating what might explain higher rates of birth defects, including CHD, among children born in military families like these:
In January of 2007 our unborn child was diagnosed with a complex CHD via a routine ultrasound. Our lives changed forever that day. We were given three options before his birth – one was a procedure of three palliative surgeries. There were no promises or no miracles that they could give us, but they told us that they would try to repair the tiny heart as best they could. Our son was born in May of 2007 with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a congenital heart defect where the left side of the heart is underdeveloped and has no function, basically half a heart. Our son Lucas had open heart surgery at 3 days old, a second open heart surgery at 4 months old, and his final open heart surgery at two years old to repair the half a heart he does have. He had many interventions during those first two years of life and continues to do so today. His last intervention was a stent replacement in February, a few months before his 9th birthday. CHD is lifelong and its care is complex. Lucas’ father Carlos is a U.S Army veteran and in 2010 he decided to re-enlist in the U.S Army reserve. It is a huge sacrifice for our country and for our son. Joining the military has helped our family immensely. These last couple of years we have been able to benefit from TriCare Insurance for our son and take advantage of the many benefits the military provides. I say sacrifice because my husband does spend time away from us when he is on military leave and sometimes emergencies come up and I am left to take care of things on my own when he is away. This has become part of our lives, knowing at the end it is all worth it. Our son says he wants to be a soldier like his daddy one day. I pray and hope that with innovation and research he is able to fulfill his heart’s desires! The sacrifice is truly a big one for our family, for our son’s future, and for our country whom we proudly serve! – Jennifer Iguina, Orlando, Florida
…..
I am active duty personnel with the United States National Guard and parent to a child with CHD, the most common birth defect and a leading cause of infant mortality. My daughter Sawyer was born with only half a functioning heart and has undergone two open heart surgeries before her first birthday. She has suffered liver failure, kidney failure, failed attempts to come off the ventilator after surgery, pulmonary hypertension, chronic low blood pressure, dependency upon several continuous infusions, countless trips to the operation room for procedures, three significant cardiac arrests, and three minor ones. By some combination of incredible care and divine intervention, she survived. At eight months old, Sawyer was listed for transplant and 39 days later, she received the gift of a new, whole heart. Now, 1 year later, we have many reminders of Sawyer’s struggle to live. Her tiny chest is riddled with scars, she is fed primarily through a feeding tube, and we are playing catch up on all that she missed. We know that transplant is not a cure – that there is no cure. We know that not all kids survive the storm of CHD. It is our greatest desire and responsibility to raise awareness, raise funds, and promote research for this incredibly prevalent disease so that more parents can watch their children thrive. – Patrick Kelly, Indianapolis, IN
…..
My daughter Rayna was born with complex CHD and it is nothing short of a medical miracle that she lived until it was discovered when she was 4. Her broken heart required emergency life-saving surgery to reconnect her “plumbing” to get blood flowing in the right direction and repair an additional hole in her heart. 4 years later, our lives are still a struggle, as we deal with complications both physically and psychologically at home and at school. Rayna prides herself on her strength and her courage, just like her father, Tim, a veteran of the Gulf War and her grandfather, a veteran of the Vietnam War. Yet, CHD has certainly had a serious impact on this proud military family. – Sara Schuh, Manitowoc, WI
Beyond helping people affected by CHD, this research can also help to save money for the military health care system. Another DoD funded researcher, Dr. Cecilia Lo, has explained how her CHD research “can help reduce healthcare costs for the Military Health System. One study showed an average bill of over $500,000 in the first 2 years for patients with a severe CHD known as hypoplastic left-heart syndrome. Hence, clinical outcomes research that can reduce postsurgical complications will have benefit not only for the patients and their families, but this can also help lessen the economic burden on the Military Health System.”
Research has brought us so far in the last few decades. Children born with critical congenital heart disease just three decades ago would not have lived past the first few weeks of life. Research can also take us so much further in the coming years. However, for this to happen, it is imperative that we not let our Federal commitment to research falter.
We need research, not red tape: Tell your Senators to support Amendment #4369 to S. 2943, the fiscal year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, today!