Thanks to Valentine’s Day, the month of February is closely associated with hearts – more precisely, the well-known heart shape, usually in hues of pink or red.
But did you know February is also officially American Heart Month, according to the Centers for Disease Control? This time we’re talking about the actual heart – the muscular organ inside our chest that pumps blood throughout the body, carrying oxygen to our cells.
That’s important work, which is why the CDC sets aside February as a time for all people to focus on their cardiovascular health.
At St. Charles, we have a talented staff of cardiologists and caregivers at our Heart and Lung Center who provide cutting-edge and life-saving care every day to people with heart ailments. We are thankful for the incredible work they do.
I’d also like to use this opportunity to highlight the St. Charles Foundation’s Children’s Heart Fund, which offers a wide range of support services to families of children with congenital heart disease. Those services may include simple but vital help such as gas cards, food and lodging through the Ronald McDonald house, or it may mean complex assistance, such as providing the family with a case manager to help with care coordination and community services, or coordination of neurodevelopmental follow-up for at-risk children.
That’s a mouthful, so let me state it clearly: The Children’s Heart Fund helps families of kids with congenital heart disease when they need it most. By alleviating other stressors, it frees up parents to focus completely on their top priority: the health of their child.
The Children’s Heart Fund does tremendous work year-round, but February is when it makes its major fundraising push, and I believe it deserves your support. I would encourage you to watch the video below, then visit our Children’s Heart Fund fund web page to learn more about how you can help.
I wish you a very happy (and healthy) heart month.
Sincerely,
Joe
