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We have exciting news to share from Springfield on HB 2661, the pulse ox bill - last week the bill passage out of the Senate Public Health Committee 9-0! Now the bill moves forward to be voted on by the entire Senate. We need your help to urge your Senator to vote YES and pass this bill successfully...

Guess What? The House just passed Pulse Ox with a vote of 88-4! Thank you to everyone for keeping the momentum going! They heard us loud and clear…but even though we are very close to ensuring that all Iowa babies are screened for congenital heart defects, it’s not a done deal yet. We...

Guest Blogger Kelly Manz describes why having Chloe’s Law finally reach the Governor’s desk is the ultimate Mother’s Day gift! When I began this journey in 2009, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I was on a mission and I jumped in head first! I started with baby steps...

American Heart Association volunteers from around the state gathered in Madison on May 7th for a day of advocacy. Attendees spent the morning learning the issues then hit the Capitol for meetings with lawmakers to discuss Senate Bill 104 and Assembly Bill 111, legislatio n that would ensure all newborns...

The following is an update on the pulse ox hearing from Justin Bell: The Pulse Ox Newborn Screening Bill (H.F. 483) had its first hearing yesterday in the House HHS Policy Committee - where it passed out unanimously! The bill will ensure that every newborn is screened for Critical Congenital Heart...

A big thanks to the nearly 50 advocates who came out to our Heart on the Hill at the Capitol in St. Paul yesterday. The entire day was a HUGE success! We were able to visit with nearly 90 legislators, delivering important messages and personal stories on our three priority issues – funding the...

Students at Blake Elementary School in Hopkins have been following the story of one of their classmates, who has a congenital heart defect and is currently on a transplant list. On Thursday February 7th – American Heart Association Government Relations Director, Justin Bell visited the school and...

Today kicks off Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week (Feb 7-14). Governor Dayton has recognized the week with a state proclamation and on Feb. 12th, we will celebrate Heart on the Hill Lobby Day, advocating for better screening for congenital heart defects. Check out the great story below on the...

We need your voice! One of the most impactful ways you can advocate for the American Heart Association is to meet with your legislators. Our Minnesota Lobby Day offers you the opportunity to do just that! REGISTER NOW! Tuesday, February 12, 2013, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Join other advocates to speak...

Cole Klein, 10, was born with a serious congenital heart defect that wasn't caught until he suffered congestive heart failure at 53 days old. His mother, Tiffany Mytty-Klein, explains why she believes that a screening at birth could save kids like Cole from serious complications or death. A measuure...

Have you heard of Pulse Oximetry? It's a simple screening test performed on newborns before they leave the hospital to check for congenital heart disease. One in 100 babies are born with congenital heart disease. It is the number ONE birth defect! Each year, 4,000 babies die of a congenital heart...

Lynn Paulson South Dakota For two years, I played a dangerous game with my heart. I kept experiencing a racing heart and shortness of breath episodes that lasted a few minutes at a time. With my busy work and travel schedule, I just chalked it up to normal anxiety and stress, but when my symptoms...

Melanie Moody Wisconsin "If you would have waited a few more hours your son would not be with you today." These were the words we were told from Aiden’s surgeon on February 19th, 2007. Aiden was born 5 weeks earlier. The doctor had mentioned to us that Aiden had a heart murmur,...

Amy Basken Wisconsin My third child was born with a broken heart. Literally. We didn't find out until it was almost too late. Nicholas was born happy and healthy and looked great - we were preparing for a normal discharge home. However, a newborn screen of his heart function was a little "off"...

Jimmy Leiter Deerfield, IL I was getting ready to play football during my senior year of high school. I had to see my family doctor to get my physical done, and because of a heart murmur and some other heart issues from when I was younger, the doctor insisted I get an echo. He told me that he wouldn't...

Jill Duis Nebraska I have walked with heart disease my entire life. I was born with a complete heart block, meaning the top part of my heart didn't communicate with the bottom part, which meant my heart would only beat 40 beats per minute – about half the normal rate. My parents were...

Mary Kay Miller Nebraska I am surrounded by loved ones with heart disease and stroke. I lost my mom and my husband to heart disease. My son had heart surgery when he was not quite 2 years old. Then, after being told he could no longer participate in sports, he became an all-class state champion...

Ethan and Polly Rames South Dakota Our 3rd son, Ethan, was born with a congenital heart defect known as Transposition of the Great Vessels. We were fortunate that the excellent staff at our local hospital discovered his condition prior to his birth so that we could prepare for the most difficult experience...

Austin Redd Missouri I left for school the morning of May 13, 2010 just like any other morning...but that day would end up very different than the rest. I collapsed at school because of what we now know was an undetected birth defect. I had no warning signs before my collapse. Due to the quick...

Michelle Tipton North Dakota I lost my teen age son to a congenital heart defect. On March 25 th , 1999, I was the mother of two boys, Shannon, 17 and Dustin, 12. Around noon, I received a phone call from Shannon’s high school. He did not make it to school that day. My father found Shannon dead...

Jeremy Aylward South Dakota My journey began when I was in the seventh grade. I was diagnosed with bicuspid aortic valve stenosis and insufficiency with ascending aorta dilatation and left ventricular hypertrophy. At the age of 18, I underwent my first open-heart surgery, a total aortic valve replacement...

Jonathan Lockie, Iowa “Essentially, our son has half a heart.” My mind spun as my husband summarized our newborn’s list of congenital heart defects. Jonathan’s best chance of survival was a series of three open heart surgeries, countless procedures, and months in the hospital...