The Daily Procrastinator

I’m fascinated and horrified by Snuggie infomercials. I can just about take grandma Snuggie-d up on the couch (and can even envision, on an evening when the damn boiler stops working again, that it might be pretty cozy.)

But then – in the name of all things holy – the snuggies are on the loose, outside, at a sporting event. WTF people – do you not realize that while you remain snug in front, your ass is freezing its…well…ass off? And just how exactly do you propose to run from the vigilante hordes who will hunt you down for stepping outside in that thing? You’ll trip; just you wait and see – because you’re probably wearing crocs too.

OK, deep breath, it’s not real. It’s advertising dreamed up by some guy who never expected this kind of a hit – it’s bigger than the Sham-Wow for pete’s sake.

Then I read this: Snuggie Pub Crawls are sweeping the nation. Snuggie. Pub. Crawls.

True confession time. As a Brit, I have taken part in a fair number of oddly dressed – intentionally and otherwise – pub crawls. It is our national sport, after all, but even I would draw the line at hordes of drunks flaunting their freezing behinds while navigating the sidewalks in fleecy hospital gowns. Think of the static–everyone for miles around would look like Russell Brand.

I am invited to ‘Spread the Warmth – One Snuggie Pub Crawl at a Time!’ I laugh scornfully and then they pull out the big guns – the Chicago crawl has sold tickets to 3,000 people and the receipts will be donated to orphanages in Tanzania. Orphanages.

Damn you Snuggie. How can I mock you mercilessly now without looking like the kind of heartless person who doesn’t care about tiny orphaned children in Africa? Sigh.

Snuggie domination is complete, resistance is futile.

Yes, another heart-related post from the TallGirl, but again for a cause that’s near and dear to me.  Today is Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day.

Nearly three years ago, a friend gave birth to a little girl with Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF).  TOF is comprised by four findings, including: a large hole between the two pumping chambers of the heart (ventricular septal defect, or VSD); a tightening or obstruction of the area leading out of the heart to the lungs (pulmonary stenosis); an overriding aorta; and thickening of the right ventricle. 

At 3.5 months old, this tiny baby had surgery to repair the four defects.  While she’s doing fantastically well now — a strong, independent, stubborn little girl who seems perfectly normal, aside from a large scar down the center of her chest — she will be monitored by a cardiologist for the rest of her life, and there may come a time in her future where other steps must be taken.  This could range from activity limitation, to medication, to further surgery.  

Before she was born, I knew nothing of congenital heart defects.  Now that I know more, I’m startled by the statistics:

• Congenital heart defects are the #1 birth defect.  Nearly one of every 100 babies is born with CHD.
• Congenital heart defects are the #1 cause of birth defect related deaths.
• Congenital heart defects are the leading cause of all infant deaths in the United States.
• Each year approximately 40,000 babies are born in the United States with a congenital heart defect. Thousands of them will not reach their first birthday and thousands more die before they reach adulthood.
• Each year over 1,000,000 babies are born worldwide with a congenital heart defect. 100,000 of them will not live to see their first birthday and thousands more die before they reach adulthood.
• Almost half of all children and adults with complex congenital heart disease have neurological and developmental disabilities.
• There are an estimated 2,000,000 CHD survivors in the United States.
• For the first time, more than 50% of the CHD survivors are adults.
• 10% of all CHD cases evaluated in an Adult CHD clinic are first diagnosed in adulthood.
• More than 50% of all children born with congenital heart defect will require at least one invasive surgery in their lifetime.
• There are more than 40 different types of congenital heart defects. Little is known about the cause of most of them. There is no known prevention or cure for any of them.
• It is a proven fact that the earlier a CHD is detected and treated, it is more likely the affected child will survive and have less long term health complications.
• Despite all of the above, CHD research is grossly under-funded relative to the prevalence of the disease.  (Only one penny of every dollar donated to the American Heart Association goes towards congenital heart defect research and of every dollar the government spends on medical funding, only a fraction of a penny is directed toward congenital heart defect research.)

SOURCES: Children’s Heart Foundation and March of Dimes

So on this Valentine’s Day, as you’re surrounded by heart-shaped decorations, take a moment to reflect on the the tiniest hearts.  If you’re feeling generous, the March of Dimes would appreciate your support as they continue to be a wonderful resource for CHD families.

“Before there was America, there was the Darby Free Library.”

Less than four miles from my childhood home, you will find the Darby Free Library — until the end of the year, anyway.  The oldest continuously operating library in America is facing its demise without outside donations.  

While I’m sure that they hope that someone will write one giant check to cover their expenses, we shouldn’t underestimate the power of a lot of little checks.  So if you would, please, send $5 to the following address:

The Darby Free Library
1001 Main Street
P.O. Box 164
Darby, PA 19023

The Library is a non-profit Pennsylvania Corporation and qualifies as a 501 C-3 Federal tax-deductible organization.  Its story has been profiled in the local media, as well as Boing Boing, The Huffington Post and UPI.

Do it for the history.  Do it for the kids to have a safe place for homework.  Do it so 10,000 local residents will have a place to go for free computer and internet access.  I don’t care what your reason is.  Just do it.