Greetings, Heart Friends! This is a very special week. February 14th, as well as being Valentine's Day, is also Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day. All week long people around the world will be celebrating this special time. Many of us are counting our blessings that medical technology has been able to save our "heart children." Some of us are remembering special people we know of who were born with heart defects and are now angels watching over us.
During this Heart Week please consider talking to your family about organ donation. Many people do not discuss this important issue. This is an important topic for conversation. If something were to happen to you, would you want to donate your organs? Your eyes? Your bones? If you could save a life as yours was ending, would you?
Alexander would not be with me today if it were not for the kindness of others. Some people have donated blood to him. He had cadaver tissue at the ready during his first open-heart surgery (although he didn't end up needing it). We have friends whose children would not be here today were it not for the sacrifices other families made.
Kevin Kienlein, a contributor to "The Heart of a Father" is the most recent recipient of a transplant that I'm friends with. Kevin received the heart and lungs of a generous individual and is recovering today. What a miracle! Out of the depths of despair, one family found it in their hearts to give Kevin their daughter's heart and lungs and because of that, Kevin will soon be playing in his band, taking photographs and enjoying every breath he takes.
Happy Valentine's Day! Happy Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day! Blessings to all of you who talk to your families and decide to give the gift of life to someone else.
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