Eastern Washington youth share messages of hope during Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week

PULLMAN, Wash., Feb. 5, 2026 – As the American Heart Association marks Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) Awareness Week, Feb. 7–14, families across Washington are reminded of the importance of recognizing, understanding and supporting those born with heart conditions. Two of those young survivors are Wesley Carl, a fourth grader from Pullman, Wash., and Hazel Hupp, a third grader from Wenatchee, Wash. 

Carl was born with a congenital heart defect called atrial septal defect (ASD), which is a hole in the wall separating the upper chambers of the heart. At first, only a heart murmur was detected, but a later trip to the emergency room led to further testing and the ASD diagnosis. Carl’s care team ultimately recommended open‑heart surgery, which he underwent in 2023 to repair the hole. 

Hupp was born with a congenital heart defect called coarctation of aorta (CoA), which means the main artery in the heart is narrow or constricted. Doctors discovered the defect through a heart murmur, and Hupp had her first heart procedure before she was one week old. Two more followed, including open-heart surgery for a full repair when she was seven months old. 

Today, Carl and Hupp are doing well and inspired to share their stories to support other kids with “special hearts” as a 2025-26 Youth Heart Ambassador with the American Heart Association. They hope their experiences show families that a heart condition does not limit a child’s dreams. 

Carl and Hupp are among the more than 40,000 children born each year with a CHD, the most common birth defect. This means every 15 minutes a baby in the United States is born with a heart defect.[1]  Altogether, more than 2.4 million children and adults in the United States are believed to be living with congenital heart disease.[2] 

CHDs are structural abnormalities of the heart present at birth that can involve the heart muscle, valves, walls or major blood vessels connected to the heart.[3] Because of major advancements in research and treatment, death rates from CHD have declined by roughly 37% since 1999.[4] Still, approximately 1 in 4 babies born with CHDs today has a critical heart defect, usually requiring surgery or other procedures within their first year of life.[5] 

“Congenital heart disease is a lifelong condition, but the good news is that care has advanced tremendously,” said Nefthi Sandeep, M.D., volunteer medical expert for the American Heart Association and medical director of pediatric and adult congenital cardiology at Mary Bridge Children's. “Children born with CHD today have access to specialized teams, better diagnostics and far more effective treatments than ever before. We’re seeing kids grow into healthy, active adults, and that progress continues every year as research and care improve.”  

The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology (ACC), along with several other leading medical associations, issued a new guideline in December 2025 for managing congenital heart disease in adults.[6] Among the findings: 

• Care at a specialized center: Adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) have better health outcomes when they receive care at an ACHD Center. It’s also important to help teens transition to ACHD treatment centers. Planning for transition typically begins between ages 12 and 16, with transfer of care often occurring between ages 18 and 21. 
• Multidisciplinary care: Patients with ACHD need to meet with a team of different medical specialists called a multidisciplinary team to help with complex decision making. 
• Pre-procedure consultation: It’s important for patients to consult with an ACHD cardiologist before undergoing any procedures and surgeries, whether related to their heart or not. 
• Reproductive health planning: ACHD patients should talk to their care team about reproductive health. Individuals with ACHD who can become pregnant should talk with their ACHD cardiologist to understand the best and safest birth control options, genetic testing, how a pregnancy could affect their health, and safe birthing options. Most pregnant patients with ACHD can undergo vaginal delivery safely.

The American Heart Association works with the Children’s Heart Foundation to co-fund the Congenital Heart Defect Research Awards program. This program is a collaborative investment of funds by the two organizations for medical professionals to better understand and treat CHDs.

As CHD Awareness Week begins, the American Heart Association encourages families across Washington to learn about CHD, recognize warning signs, seek specialized care and support ongoing research that provides hope for future generations. 

Learn more about CHD from the American Heart Association at heart.org/CHD. Find a community of support for those living with CHD or parents caring for a child with CHD at supportnetwork.heart.org.  

Additional resources:

• 2026 Heart Disease & Stroke Statistics Update Fact Sheet Children & Cardiovascular Diseases In the United States
• Read in Spanish

###

About the American Heart Association 

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1. In Washington, visit heart.org/Washington, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or X. 

For Media Inquiries:  

Lily Gordon: lily.gordon@heart.org  

Valerie Koch: valerie.koch@heart.org  

Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721) 

heart.org and stroke.org