The Kobe Kekoa Foundation
Our mission is to provide love and support to the Nursing and Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) Communities.
Heart defects are the most common type of birth defect.
1 in 110
About 40,000 babies are born with a heart defect every year in the United States (CDC.gov)
1 in 4
About 1 in 4 babies with a CHD have a critical CHD. Infants with critical CHDs generally need surgery or other procedures in their first year of life. (CDC.gov)
What are Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs)?
CHDs are present at birth and can affect the structure of a baby’s heart and the way it works. They can affect how blood flows through the heart and out to the rest of the body. CHDs can vary from mild (such as a small hole in the heart) to severe (such as missing or poorly formed parts of the heart). (CDC.gov)
How are CHD diagnosed?
Some heart defects can be found during pregnancy by looking at ultrasound pictures of the heart of the developing baby. Other heart defects aren’t detected until birth through newborn screening, or later in life, during childhood or adulthood. (CDC.org)
What is the Treatment?
Treatment for CHDs depends on the type and severity of the defect present. Some affected infants and children might need one or more surgeries to repair the heart or blood vessels. Some can be treated without surgery using a procedure called cardiac catheterization. (CDC.gov)
Is Surgery the cure?
It is important to note that even if their heart defect has been repaired, many people with CHDs are not cured and require follow-up care. (CDC.gov)
What Causes CHD?
The causes of CHDs among most babies are unknown. (CDC.gov)
How many are living with CHD?
It is estimated that more than 2,000,000 individuals in the United States are living with a CHD. Many people with a CHD lead independent lives with little or no difficulty. Others might develop disability over time. Some people with a CHD have genetic problems or other health conditions that increase their risk for disability. (CDC.gov)
Resources: https://www.childrensheartfoundation.org/, cdc.gov
The Kobe Kekoa Foundation is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt not-for-profit organization, EIN 93-2079291; all contributions are tax-deductible. Pray with us that God uses this foundation to touch hearts and lives. Continuing to trust God and “Be Strong and Courageous” -Joshua 1:9
The Kobe Kekoa Foundation 