Mr. Speaker, February is heart and stroke month and many Canadians' lives have been or will be affected by congenital heart defect, CHD, which is ranked as the most common birth defect, affecting an estimated one in 100 children.
While many of these children have repairable heart defects and require no surgery, at least half will face one, if not many surgeries in their lifetime.
My constituents, Michael and Carol Ferry, have a daughter, Natalie, who was born with a severe and complex heart defect. Just 18 months old, Natalie will soon be preparing for her third and hopefully final surgery.
Canadians give generously every February in support of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. As a result, ongoing medical advances in the next decade could surpass all progress made during the last century, which will help to ensure that children with CHD, such as Natalie Ferry, will lead a rich, full and normal life.