Meath mum's campaign saves lives of hundreds of US newborn babies

A Meath mum has saved the lives of hundreds of newborn babies through her foundation, which has made screening for critical congenital heart defects mandatory in five US states.
Marie Hatcher started Matthew’s Hearts of Hope after her little boy was born with the condition and in just seven short years has managed to fund research that may prolong the life of other children with ‘half a heart’.
Marie is originally from Kilkeelan in Athboy, where her parents Mary and Sean Spaight still farm.
Matthew’s Hearts of Hope was started when Marie and her husband Mike wanted to raise awareness about Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) which affects 40,000 new babies in the US each year.
Since founded in 2011, Matthew’s Hearts of Hope raises up to $100,000 a year, which has helped to fund research into the condition.
Matthew (8) has undergone four open-heart surgeries since he was born as well as further operations to reroute the way his blood flows around this body.
“We started talking about doing something when Matthew’s friend Faith died of the condition at two years of age in 2010. We came up with Matthew’s Hearts of Hope to give these kids a voice and raise awareness of the condition,” she said.
Marie and Mike began working with a local senator in Connecticut, where they live, to pass a bill that eventually became known as Matthew and Faith’s Law.
“This law mandates that every newborn in the state of Connecticut be screened for critical congenital heart defects just using a very simple device - a pulse oximeter which is a little thing put on your finger to check your oxygen levels.

“This law was also passed in Vermont, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New York where all newborns are now screened.
“Before this, newborns went home and only when they turned blue did panicked parents rush them to hospital where they were often too weak at that stage to undergo surgery.”
“I feel really privileged and proud that because of Matthew’s foundation, we have and will help more research into new ways to help babies that are born with CHD.”

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