Volunteers knit more than 18,000 red hats for newborns
Throughout February, all babies born at more than 30 Chicago area hospitals, will be given red hats in support of the American Heart Association's Little Hats, Big Hearts program.
American Heart Association volunteers knitted and crocheted more than 18,000 hats for the Little Hats, Big Hearts project in Chicago, which raises awareness of heart disease, the No. 1 killer of Americans, and congenital heart defects, the most common type of birth defect in the country. The hats will be distributed during February, which is American Heart Month.
The Little Hats, Big Hearts program started in Chicago three years ago. The first year, 300 hats were distributed to nine hospitals. Last year, volunteers from all 50 states and six countries sent in more than 15,000 hats, which were distributed to about 20 hospitals in the Chicago area. Because of the tremendous success, Little Hats, Big Hearts has now spread to more than 30 states and more than 300 hospitals across the country.
About 40,000 American children are born with a heart defect each year. Congenital heart defects are structural problems with the heart that is present at birth. They result when a mishap occurs during heart development soon after conception and often before the mother is aware that she is pregnant.
The American Heart Association is second only to the federal government in funding cardiovascular and stroke research, including congenital heart defects.
You can see photos of babies wearing the red hats by following the hashtag #LittleHatsBigHearts.
Advocate Children's Hospital-Park Ridge Campus; Advocate Condell Medical Center, Vernon Hills; Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, Barrington; Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge; Advocate Sherman Hospital, Elgin; Lake Forest Hospital, Lake Forest; and Northwest Community Healthcare, Arlington Heights, are just a few of the participating hospitals. Visit www.heart.org for the complete list of participating hospitals and organizations in the Chicago area.
• Submit 'Your News' at www.dailyherald.com/share.