Editorial: The heartening boost of the 'red cap' campaign
Samantha Witt knows firsthand how common it is for congenital heart disease to affect newborns. Her 18-month-old son, Mason, was born with four congenital heart defects and had surgery at just 7 days old to repair his aorta.
So as a patient access specialist at Delnor Community Hospital in Geneva, part of her role is to assist in a successful program to spread awareness of the condition and of heart disease in general.
"I felt lost and scared because I knew nothing about this condition that affects one in every 110 babies," Witt, of West Chicago, told Daily Herald staff writer Justin Kmitch for a recent story. "But this has now affected me and my family firsthand. So I'm knowledgeable now, and I want to do anything I can to help babies who fought like Mason has had to, and their parents, so they don't feel as scared and alone as I did."
The awareness program from the American Heart Association is called Little Hats, Big Hearts. Volunteers make handmade red knit caps for babies and they are distributed at hospitals along with information on congenital heart defects.
More than 19,000 of those hats were given to babies born in 33 Chicago and suburban hospitals during the month of February, American Heart Month. Nationally, 95,000 babies born in 460 hospitals across 37 states were given the hats. It's making a huge impact and is an example of how volunteers in any community can get involved and make a difference.
"So many knitters are picking up the needles again and helping us spread the awareness. It's really been awesome, especially in the Chicago area, that we had 300 hats to distribute in 2014 and now we have 19,000," association spokeswoman Anne Schullo told Kmitch.
Even more people can get involved later this year. Hats for next year's campaign will be accepted from Aug. 1 through Dec. 31. Hats and yarn donations can be sent directly to Schullo at the American Heart Association, 208 S. LaSalle St., Suite 1500, Chicago, IL 60604.
While all the hats are delivered to parents and babies with information on heart disease, some hospitals go a step further. Nurses at Edward Hospital in Naperville, for example, use the hats as an opportunity to discuss the Critical Congenital Heart Diseases test their baby is given. It can be a lifesaver.
"It's a great way to screen for cardiac defects. We've picked some (defects) up for sure and have been able to save some little ones because of it," said mother/baby nurse Cathy Smith.
The volunteers, hospitals and the heart association all deserve credit for making such huge strides in a short amount of time to inform parents about the dangers of heart disease in a unique way.
"Red has such a different meaning for us than it did two years ago," Witt said. "Seeing these babies in their red hats melts my heart. I always take a moment to tell the parents their child is wearing it for my son and all of the other boys and girls out there struggling and fighting. It truly is a wonderful thing to see."
Indeed it is.