New York State Executive Chamber | Governor Eliot Spitzer

Press Releases | Speeches | Executive Orders | Proclamations

Proclamation

Whereas, children are truly our most precious resource and maintaining excellent health and medical care for them at all stages of life is a top priority in our state and nation, yet, of critical concern are the 40,000 infants born each year with a serious Congenital Heart Defect (CHD); and

Whereas, Congenital Heart Defects are present at birth and while originally believed to be rare, the medical community today identifies heart malformations as the most commonly occurring birth defect and the leading cause of birth defect-related deaths worldwide; and

Whereas, medical research has identified more than 35 different types of Congenital Heart Defects, however, due to the severity of the defect, failure to detect it in time, lack of heart transplant donors, and insufficient medical intervention options, many children die as a result of a CHD; and

Whereas, because Congenital Heart Defects often are not diagnosed until months or years after birth, these undetected heart conditions tragically lead to many cases of sudden cardiac death in young athletes; and

Whereas, until recently, Congenital Heart Defects were thought to be irreparable, however, through medical research, the origins and symptoms of CHDs have become more identifiable and the range of surgical options to correct them or alleviate their damaging effects has been expanded; and

Whereas, with advancements in medicine and research, pediatricians and other healthcare professionals can better identify the potential for Congenital Heart Defects among newborn babies, and all New Yorkers are encouraged to learn more about these serious and often undiagnosed types of birth defects, to participate in this special observance, and to support its valuable goal of raising public awareness about a crucial health matter that affects so many precious young lives;

Now, Therefore, I, Eliot Spitzer, Governor of the State of New York, do hereby proclaim February 7-14, 2008 as Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week in the Empire State.

G i v e n under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State at the Capitol in the City of Albany this first day of February in the year two thousand eight.

Eliot Spitzer, Governor

Richard Baum, Secretary to the Governor