My Letter Requesting a Proclamation from Governor Kaine Concerning Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week

I actually got the main body of this letter from the the Congenital Heart Information Network (CHIN) and added my own personal touch. If you would like to send a request of a Proclamation to your governor, CHIN has a basic letter that you can use along with a rough draft of a proclamation that you can send along with the letter. Please do this as soon as possible so that CHIN can include your state’s proclamation on their website. Thanks!

Dear Honorable Governor Kaine,

Families of children with congenital and acquired heart disease, adults with congenital heart defects, and the professionals who work with them are joining forces to have February 7-14th proclaimed in all fifty states as Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week.” As a resident of this great state of Virginia, I am requesting that you help us reach our goal by making an executive proclamation declaring this special week in February.

I am the parent of a child with a rare and complex Congenital Heart Defect (CHD). He is only 20 months old and has already had 2 open heart surgeries and will need one more before he is 3 years old.  Did you know that CHD’s affect 1 in 100 newborns? That makes CHD’s not only the number one birth defect, but also the number one killer of newborns and infants.

For more information about CHD Awareness week participants and activities, please see www.tchin.org/aware. In our effort bring awareness to CHD’s on a National Level, I would be extremely proud if my state would participate in making February 7-14th a special week to recognize people born with heart defects, to remember loved ones who lost their battle to CHD, and to honor the dedicated health professionals who work with us. I have included a rough draft of what I imagine a proclamation would look like.

I would be most grateful if you could send the proclamation as soon as possible so that we can make plans for promotion and celebration during the month of February. Our state’s participation in this event will have a profound impact on thousands of families and individuals. I thank you for your time and consideration.

Respectfully,

Lisa Curcio,
Mended Little Hearts of Charlottesville, Virginia