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Health and Wellness

Why You Should Wear Red This February

Help raise awareness for Congenital Heart Defects

Lauren Landry

Feb 07, 2017

Eastern Connecticut State University

Lauren Landry

While you were watching the Super Bowl this past weekend, 16 children were born with a heart defect in the United States.

For those of you who wore red this past Friday (Feb 3rd) I THANK YOU for helping me spread the awareness of heart-related illness!

1 in 100 babies are born with heart defects every year, that's a total of 40,000 infants born every year with a Congenital Heart Defect.

Every February, around the world awareness for Congenital Heart Defect is spread.

This February, I encourage you to spread awareness in any way that you can. Wear red, tell someone about why they should support the American Heart Association, or support their efforts in funding for yourself! The funding they do each and every day is helping to make strides around the world in awareness. Why not join in on the movement to spread awareness?

You may be thinking, why is some 19-year-old girl in college so concerned about spreading awareness. Well, I am impacted by CHD myself. After undergoing 3 open heart surgeries and countless hospitalizations I have come to the realization that if there were more research and awareness for this, hopefully, some day there could be a cure.

The funding that has already been completed has impacted many lives. Over time, children affected by this have a better chance at survival just thanks to the improvements in technology in the operating rooms.

Although I live with a heart defect and I am unable to play sports and keep up with others as much as I would like too, I still manage to live my life to the fullest each and every day. Although I am impacted, and I am living a healthy lifestyle right now, that does not mean that others with CHD are doing the same. Everyone has a different story when it comes to their heart defect. Many even have multiple heart defects.

Support me and many others this upcoming week once again this February 7th-14th during CHD AWARENESS WEEK.

With all of my heart (the half that works)

Lauren Landry (CHD survivor)

donate now!

Heart.org.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Why You Should Wear Red This February

Help raise awareness for Congenital Heart Defects

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All names should be "unisex names."

1. Communicating via email can be awkward.

2. Appointments usually accompany weird looks.

3. Introducing yourself to someone is never without a hitch.

4. You’ve probably thought about changing your name.

5. You’re often asked why you have the name you do.

6. You get excited when you meet someone of your gender with your name.

7. You feel awkward when you meet someone of the opposite gender with your name.

8. You’ve had someone say to you, “I knew a [your name], but they were [your opposite gender].”

9. You’ve heard a bad joke/pick-up line or two about your name before.

10. People are surprised when they see you.

11. You’re extra sensitive to other unique or unisex names.

12. You’ve fought with your parents about it.

13. All things considered, you’re happy your name makes you unique.

You know that all of these things apply to you. You'll just never tell.

I get it... I'm pale.

1. At least I can't lose you in a crowd!

2. Oh my goodness your skin is like glow-in-the-dark.

3. Can't you just get fake tan?

4. Do you tan or just burn?

5. Your kids are going to look like Casper the Friendly Ghost!

6. *holds arm against your arm* Look how much darker I am compared to you!

7. *holds pale arm against another pale arm* Aw, at least you're darker than her!

8. I laid out by the pool almost every day over break!

9. I haven't used sunscreen since I was, like, five.

10. *adjusts selfie lighting to their face* Oops, where'd you go??

11. *after working out* Your face is SO red!

12. *wears white* Look! You're all one color!

13. You need to get some sun.

14. Aren't you excited for summer?

The struggle bus is real.

1. Child prodigies:

2. Hearing other musicians in the practice room next door and accepting that you will never be as talented as them:

3. That anxiety that takes over before every performance:

4. Taking a million 0 credit classes:

5. When there's a paper due the next day, but you have to attend yet another concert in order to pass a 0 credit class:

6. When your friends try to encourage you after a performance, even though you are criticizing everything in your mind:

7. Knowing that there's always that one professor during juries:

8. The oh-so-attractive band/choir uniforms:

9. Realizing that a college campus is maybe not the best atmosphere to finish your latest composition:

10. Hearing "Oh, you sing opera? I LOVE Phantom of the Opera!" for the hundredth time:

11. When people think finals week is a breeze for you.

12. When you're drowning in the stress that comes with 18+ credits (and not to mention all those 0 credit classes) and people ask you how you are:

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Because you need it in your life.

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6. holds arm against your arm Look how much darker I am compared to you!

7. holds pale arm against another pale arm Aw, at least you're darker than her!

10. adjusts selfie lighting to their face Oops, where'd you go??

11. after working out Your face is SO red!

12. wears white Look! You're all one color!