This month, babies born at 28 participating hospitals in Nebraska and Council Bluffs will receive little red hats made by people in our community.
The American Heart Association and Children's Heart Foundation have been collecting hats that people have knitted, crocheted or made on a loom for the past year across the nation. People have donated about 4,500 statewide. They will be distributing 2,000 of them this year.
"One in 110 babies are born with a congenital heart defect," said Jennifer Redmond who is the American Heart Association executive director for the Omaha area. She hopes the national campaign reminds people that heart health is important.
Methodist Women's Hospital plans to hand out about 400 hats like they did last year.
Alexa Lewis who is the service leader for the mother-baby unit appreciates that the campaign also reminds parents to think about themselves, "it's that personal touch, that personal story reminding them to slow down and take their health as serious as their child's health."
February is Heart Month. Friday, February 1 is Wear Red Day and the Omaha Heart Ball is on Saturday. KMTV 3 News Now is a proud media sponsor of the Heart Ball. You can learn about the event and other sponsors here. Jennifer Griswold will serve as the event's emcee.
If you have a story you'd like Jennifer Griswold to cover as part of Your Family Now, send her an email at Jennifer.Griswold@3NewsNow.com or find her on Facebook.
