In Memory of Cora: Newborn Heart Defect Screening Awareness Day

November 30 - Newborn Heart Defect Screening Awareness Day

With the incredible honor of being chosen as part of the Global Team of 200, I have had the privilege of "meeting" other moms and reading their stories. Although I have never talked with Kristine, Cora's story broke my heart when I read it. (Read it here.) It broke for the life taken so soon and it broke for her mom and family. No mom should ever have to lose her child while she holds her so lovingly. Cora's mom is Kristine Brite McCormick. 

Since her sweet, precious baby left this world, Kristine has found ways to raise awareness and keep her daughter's memory alive. Although she was only 5 days young when she left this world, her story will outlive us all. Cora's story and influence is saving lives. 

Cora died from Congenital Heart Defect (CHD). About 1% of babies are born with congenital heart defect (CHD) or malformation. 

Newborn Heart Defect Screening Day is to encourage you to ask your doctor (or your pediatrician) to do a simple, external test of the oxygen level in your newborns capillaries. By doing a simple check of a newborns oxygen reading by pulse oximeter (pulse ox), doctors can detect low oxygen levels which can lead to finding a heart defect in your child. 

Have you ever had your vital signs taken and they place the probe on your finger with the red light? That is the pulse oximeter. It is painless and non-invasive and takes only seconds. A painless test that takes only seconds that could save your baby's life and save you a world of pain. 

Take time to educate yourself and ask your doctor. We plan for months awaiting the arrival of our little bundles of joy, why not ask for this simple test. 

Please note that not all CHD or malformations will can be detected by the pulse ox. This is just a broad over view and should be used to help catch something. If you have a family history of CHD or serious concerns. Please talk in more detail with your doctor. Although some CHD and malformations can be missed, you at least know you did everything you could do to detect it. 

Honor Cora's Memory by pledging to have your newborn screened. I pledge, if we have another child, to have the Newborn Heart Defect Screening performed. 

My thoughts and prayers are with Cora's parents as they celebrate her birthday without her.  

Kristine, what a legacy your angel is leaving behind. All thanks to her amazing mommy, who loved her so much that she doesn't want another mom to feel her pain. As a fellow mom I am inspired by your work and love. 

The REAL Awards

The REAL Awards are awards given to deserving healthcare workers who go above and beyond to help others in their jobs and helping others in their communities.

Save The Children, The Bill & Melinda Children Foundation and Frontline Health Workers Coalitioned have come together to help people honor and thank health care workers who are making a difference in peoples lives every day.

A quote from Mary Beth Powers from the Save The Children Website explains why these awards are important.

"Every year, awards are given to recognize the accomplishments of celebrities, actors, singers, athletes and entertainers," said Mary Beth Powers, Campaign Chief for Save the Children's Newborn and Child Survival Campaign. "Alongside the Oscars and Golden Globes in January, we will begin to honor a group of people who rarely receive recognition or accolades — health workers."

As a registered nurse, I am quiet fond of healthcare workers. Healthcare workers see people at all stages of life and in all emotional states. We see you when you are at your worst and sometimes when you are at your best. We help you when you do not want help. We help you when you cannot help yourself. Helping you is not just our job, but our passion.

Think back to when you had your children or when a loved one was in the hospital or you were under the care of a healthcare worker. Did anyone stand out to you? Did anyone help your stay more pleasant? Did you have anyone come into your home and help you once you got discharged from the hospital?

Healthcare workers take on many roles and have many different job titles. Think through those you have met and if you feel any are worthy of nomination, pick a below to nominate them!

The categories to nominate healthcare workers are as follows:

Newborn and Mother Care
Pediatric Care
Chronic Disease Care
Hospice Care
Emergency Care
Veteran Care
At-Home Care
General Health Worker

You can find a the Official Rules here.

You only have until tomorrow, November 29, 2012 to nominate the special healthcare worker in your life. Take time to show them they made a difference in your life by nominating them for this amazing award.

(Voting will begin taking place on November 30, 2012).

Malala Day

Today is Malala Day.

Malala Yousafzai has become the face for Global Education.

Malala is a 14 year old girl that lives in the Swat Valley in Pakistan. This area was taken over by the Taliban in 2009. She was asked to keep a blog about how the Talibans presence effected her life. Malala blogged under the name Gul Makai to protect herself and family from the Taliban. She blogged for 10 weeks and then her family moved to another area when military operations began in the area. The Taliban did not want any girls attending school so there was constant threat of school being cancelled or banned. Malala became very vocal about her right to an education. She began speaking up for herself and other girls and children around the world who do not have access or are just denied the ability to go to school.

Because of her continued fight and perseverance for the right for education for girls and children everywhere, she was runner-up for the International Children's Peace Prize 2011.

On October 9, 2012, a man came onto the school van and asked who Malala was and then shot her and two other girls. Malala was shot in the head and neck. All of the girls are still recovering from their physical, mental, and emotional wounds.

Today on Malala Day, we stand with Malala to show support for her, the two other girls shot alongside her, and all of the other children who are denied access to an education.

Look at these stats:

61 Million children shut out of primary school
34 Million adolescent girls not in school
16 Million children with disabilities not in school, with 1/4 of these children being blind.


Every child deserves a right to learn. When we educate children, we create a future for them.

I stand with Malala and all of the other children around the world longing for an education.

Take action today and sign this petition to call upon all the countries to outlaw discrimination against girls. Sign the petition to help ensure that the 61 million children who are not in school will be by the end of 2015.

Sign it for Malala. Sign it for the girls of the world.

Visit EducationEnvoy.org for more information.

Help and Chat with a Child in Bolivia

Imagine being a child in an extremely poor country and getting a message from someone across the world. All of a sudden you feel like someone knows you exist. You somehow don't feel so alone.

This is part of a new program the World Food Programme has started with the school children of Bolivia.

First a few facts about Bolivia:

-It is one of the poorest countries in Latin America with nearly two thirds or 80% of the country living below the poverty line.
-Stunting in children under 5 years old remains at 27-37% and has for ten years, due to lack of nutrition.
-The income of 40% of the population (once again hight in rural areas at 59%) is insufficient to meet the basic food needs.
-63% of households cannot provide the MINIMUM caloric intake needed for adequate growth.
-They depend mainly on agriculture so in lean seasons or natural disasters they cannot make money nor eat.

You can get more involved with the children of Bolivia. WFP has an amazing tool that allows you to ask questions to these children and then they will reply back. I am just trying this out today and I look forward to their response! This is an amazing tool to use with older children to help open their eyes that the world is much bigger than your family, home, town, or country. It helps them put a face to a need.

Words have so much power, especially to children. Just a simple note or question can make a difference. Imagine someone asking your opinion or what your hopes or dreams are?!

Send your message or question through this site:

The World Food Programme is working to help the children of Bolivia by reducing malnutrition in children. This will allow them to concentrate and learn in school. This will help all children, even those not in school. They are working to enhance emergency preparedness and how to respond during emergencies.

You can donate to the World Food Programme here.

**This is my second post as part of the Global Team of 200! Follow us!**


I would love for you to share your question/message and the response you get from the children of Bolivia!

Trick or Treat with Purpose

I had no idea that you could help other children by Trick or Treating but you can!

Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF was started in 1950 during the aftermath of World War II. It encourages children to collect coins to help those still affected by the war. It is still going on to day and helping children around the world. This program helps show children that they can be active global citizens and help other children all while having fun and dressing up!

It is one of UNICEF's longest -running youth volunteer initiative and is 62 years old this year. In it's 62 Halloweens, $167 million has been raised. This has helped children in over 190 countries and territories. The money goes toward health care, immunizations, clean water, sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more. Without the money raised during Halloween, children would have to do without some of the basic necessities of life.

They have fun boxes you can use to collect money if you order their free kits in time. Obviously, today is Halloween so you most likely will not have one of their boxes but you can make a box or envelope of your own or help your children make one.

Here is an awesome, short video that introduces the program a bit more:

A few other ideas to help raise money for UNICEF before or after Trick-or-Treating:

-Have them assign a value to each of their candies and treats they get tonight. Then have them "sell" their candy to you for money that can then be sent to UNICEF.
-Have your children go through their piggy bank or chore money and left them buy some of the candy back from you.
-If you have time to set up a cider or hot chocolate booth in your neighborhood, you can collect the money raised from that and send it to UNICEF.
-You can also make a donation online.

I wish I would have known of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF when I was younger but my daughter will grow up with this as much a part of Halloween as pumpkins!!! This is such an easy way to show children that helping others can be fun and easy!



***This is my first post as part of the Global Team of 200!! Please follow along with us as we blog throughout the next year sharing amazing programs and organizations!!****

Where to Shop Wednesday: FuzziBunz

FuzziBunz is one of the most widely known cloth diapering names. Tereson Dupuy is the inventor of FuzziBunz and founder and CEO of Mother of Eden. She invented FuzziBunz in January of 1999 after her son was suffering from chronic diaper rash. She couldn't find a solution that was easy or convenient. So became the birth of modern cloth diapers. Some people refer to Tereson Dupuy as "the mother of the modern cloth diaper."

If you aren't familiar with FuzziBunz, here is a brief overview of their diapers and products: Pocket diapers with a fleece lining and snaps. Super fun colors. One Size (Birth to Potty Trained) and Perfect Size (sized XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL), Trainers, Nursing Pads, Hanging Diaper Pails, Diaper Totes, Diaper Sprayers, Mama Pads, Inserts, Detergent, Changing Pads, Mattress Pads. Did I miss anything?

FuzziBunz diapers are amazing diapers. Their products are amazing. And their company is amazing!

Here is a list of the organizations they have helped:

• Aid for Orphans (Ukraine)
• Amani Baby Cottage (Uganda)
• Healing Hands of Haiti
• Malayka House (Uganda)
• Miracle Diapers (USA)
• Raising Malawi 
• The Home of Hope (Malawi)
• The Crisis Nursery (Uganda)
• Autism Speaks

FuzziBunz has given to several different organizations through the FuzziBunz Gives Back Program.   They have provided thousands of cloth diapers to several orphanages around the world. These include orphanages in the U.S., Africa, Haiti, and the Ukraine.  They also raised funds to donate formula and cereal for these babies. Then in their free time (not sure where they find it!) they have sewn blankets and other items to give these precious children something of their own. It that doesn't give you warm fuzzies about this company, nothing will!

When natural disasters hit here in the US and over seas, they also raise funds and help out as they can. Being a Louisiana based company, they see their fair share of natural disasters. During the floods and tornados of 2011, they helped collect and send baby supplies including diapers to families who lost everything.

They have also raised over $13,000 for Autism Speaks through the sale of their Light It Up Blue diaper. If you purchase this diaper $1 of each Light It Up Blue Diaper sale will be donated to Autism Speaks. Tereson's son Eden was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome at 8 years old so this charity is very dear to her and her family.

What if every company cared this much? They care about their products, their employees, their customers, and their world!

Doesn't shopping feel good?!

Where to Shop Wednesday: gDiapers

gDiapers are incredibly versatile diapers. The company was started by Jason and Kim Graham-Nye while living in Australia. When they found out that regular disposable diapers were the third largest contributor to landfills in the world while only 5% of the population uses them! That fact gets me too! How does it not make everyone want to use reusable diapers!!

They decided right then that disposables weren't an option. They were living in a drought stricken area of Australia so they had to be extremely water conscious so they couldn't do 100% cloth either. So what's an eco responsible couple to do?! They heard about a company in Tasmania (very near Australia) that made flushable diapers and from their the idea was born. Fast forward to gDiapers.

They are a hybrid: part reusable (the shell) and part biodegradable disposables. You can also use hemp cloth insert inside to make it 100% reusable. They are great for traveling. Did I mention they are super cute?!

gDiapers is involved with many different charities and organizations.

Here is a list of the many different non-profit organizations gDiapers helps out:

Who knew shopping could feel so good?!