H.O.P.E. Flag Challenge (Press Release)

For Immediate Release

June 5,2014

(Houston, TX) Shawn’s Anomaly (http://www.shawnsanomaly.org)is a looking for athletes to volunteer to help spread awareness about children born with birth defects and physical abnormalities. 

Th H.O.P.E. (Helping Others, Providing Education) flag was created to honor and inspire families affected by congenital birth defects. It is covered with the names of children that are affected or have lost their life to congenital birth defects.  Over the past few years, the flag has been carried for many marathons and Ironman triathlons. We can't walk hand in hand with all of the kids across the finish line, but their names can cross with us.

Our goal is to have the H.O.P.E. Flag carried for every marathon mile of every US Ironman in 2014.  We are looking for athletes to help this challenge become a reality.

Shawn’s Anomaly is the only non-profit dedicated to the mission of providing education, hope, and help to families affected by congenital anomalies

Sadly, birth defects are often overlooked by society unless it hits you close to home. Shawn, was born with several birth defects including one that affects 1 in 35,000,000 children. The feelings of hopelessness and the unknown that his parents (Matthew & Rachel Murphy) felt should never be felt by any parent. They decided to do whatever it took to prevent another family from going through what they did again alone.

We are looking for 2014 Ironman participates to carry the flag during the run portion of the Ironman. We are going to document the athlete's stories and training while pairing them up with a family affected by congenital anomalies   The plan to tell each family's story and invite them to be there when the athletes finishes with the flag to catch their reaction. Once we collect all the athlete and family stories, we will then put them in an online documentary series called the Stories of H.O.P.E.

For additional information please contact ShawnsIronman@gmail.com

Information Shawn’s Anomaly: http://www.shawnanomaly.org

Information about the hope flag: http://www.shawnsironman.com/p/hope-flag.html

Information about the H.O.P.E. Flag Challenge: http://www.hopeflagchallenge.com

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Mumbai to get its first birth defect management clinic

By Santish Andhale

http://www.dnaindia.com/authors/santosh-andhale

Prevention is better than cure and preventing something right at the onset is even better. This is what the civic body seems to have decided to follow.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plans to start a Birth Defect Management Clinic at KEM Hospital to rectify anomalies in children immediately after birth. Many of these anomalies become serious problems later on as parents tend to waste precious time and decide to treat it once the child is slightly older.

The KEM Hospital administration will create a special team comprising a paediatrician, ophthalmic surgeon, cardiac surgeon and paediatric surgeon for this clinic. Apart from hospital doctors, the BMC health department will also appoint super-specialty doctors from outside on a contract basis.

A congenital disorder or disease is a condition existing at birth or one that develops during the first month of life (neonatal disease). Birth defect is a widely used term for a congenital malformation, ie a congenital, physical anomaly which is recognisable at birth and which is significant enough to be considered a problem.

There are several children who are born with defects like squint, cardiac problem and bone disorder among others.

Director of medical education, BMC, Dr Suhasini Nagda said, "Chances of a child with an anomaly leading a normal life are higher if the problem is detected early and treated on time. But either there is lack of awareness among parents or they don't get proper advice about the disease and treatment. That's why we have decided to open a dedicated clinic at KEM Hospital, where doctors will only work on cases of birth defects. We have already started a special outpatient department for such cases. Parents can get the right advice under one roof."

"For now, we plan to open this clinic only at KEM Hospital, but, in the future, we will extend the service in Sion and Nair hospitals as well. This will be a first-of-a-kind clinic in a BMC-run hospital."

Article-Major Congenital Anomaly Risk Down for Older Moms

(HealthDay News) — Advanced maternal age is associated with decreased risk for major fetal congenital anomalies, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, held from February 3–8 in New Orleans  See More>>>