What is your cause????

I have not seen many of ur posts let me first see it, then I will tell you what i think

Mostly I try to help out (when I can) with local groups working for CHD and cancer,especially cervical cancer.My son was born with a congenital heart defect and I survived cervical stage 4 as of about 2 years ago. I'm still on the close watch for it though.There's a very good group that just had it's own walk to help support research and programs at Texas Children's Hospital not long ago (V-Day). I'll see if I can find the information on it for anyone interested. There is also a national group that has some really good information. I just found out that they are starting to do research into a possible correlation between CHD and some types of learning problems later in life. I'm watching that very closely since I see some of it in my son. Of course he's 5 so I may be imagining some of it :) Melinda

These days I don't have any particular cause but if we have any spare money then it goes to research on kidney disease and dementia. If I ever won a substantial amount of money, then these would be the first 2 charities that I would support, as well as research into cancer too. Kidney disease because that is a family medical problem, although it bypassed me and our son thankfully, but has affected many others. Dementia because it is just so cruel and my mother-in-law suffers from it. I accept that it will happen but would like to see research into how they can stop or even delay the onset of it. I often think that if they find a cure for one of these problems, then that will help with others, because there has to be some sort of link between the various birth defects. I do understand what you are saying about the amount of money donated for research. I think that there are so many splinter groups these days, and I am not saying that your cause is one. Actually the medical condition in my family is not totally kidney but that is the organ that it mostly affects. There is very little known about the actual condition, but as I said if they can find one thing, then possibly another will fall into place as well.

Hi Carole! Yes, it's unfortunate that the AHA only gives about 10% of its monies to CHD concerns. My youngest son has mutiple heart defects and has already had 2 open heart surgeries (he's only 3 1/2). It's a shame that the AHA, like so many other organizations, seems to turn a blind eye to chd's. I've been writing to my senators, representatives and governors since right after my son was born, trying to spread the word about chd's and hopefully to gain approval for a nationally recognized CHD Awareness Day. Unfortunately the bill that was sponspored by two reps is still waiting to have its day on the floor. But, I keep writing twice a year every year hoping that one day the bill will get passed. I donate to chd charities that in turn donate the money to research. My husband and I are in the process of starting a club that we hope to gain not-for-profit status for in an effort to increase awareness and raise more money for chd research and to help out families who are financially strained when their chd child needs surgery, etc.