Fetal syndromes affect over 800,000 babies each year in the U.S. Sadly we lose over 200 babies a day. Everything from TTTS (Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome) to issues causing premature birth and then death are affecting our unborn children.
We have a lot of work to do, but Fetal Health and our partners are leading the way to improved outcomes.
Funding is a major issue in prenatal/fetal care. On average, less than $100 per case (800,000) goes to research and support. In comparison, breast cancer has nearly 200,000 new diagnosis each year, yet has over $2500 per case going to research.
We need to do more, we all need to be activists.
Those of us parents that have had a child survive a fetal syndrome typically and rightfully support directly any condition our survivors have (such as Cerebral Palsy, autism, etc.), however there are underlying issues during pregnancy that may have lead to the syndrome. We need to understand more and we need to do this through research, awareness and activism.
The recent progress in treating breast cancer would not have happened without Susan G. Komen Foundation. Through Fetal Health, we can do the same for fetal syndromes. We will never be able to fully eliminate all syndromes, but we can make a major impact.
I encourage you all to get involved, support Fetal Health, or offer direct support to research and fetal care centers, write your congressional representatives and ask for more funding in these important areas. Together we are Leading the way to HOPE.
Lonnie Somers
CEO & Founder
Fetal Health Foundation
