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The project is a short-form documentary following the life of Matthew, a seven-year-old boy who was born with half a heart. Matthew suffers from a Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) and has already undergone four open-heart surgeries and countless other procedures. Down the road he will eventually need a heart transplant. Every 15 minutes a baby is born with a congenital heart defect.
It is the number one birth defect in the world, yet research on it only dates back 30 years or so. A simple test used for early detection of CHD isn't administered in all US hospitals, but Matthew's family is working to change that. Their advocacy has lead legislation in Connecticut and New York to mandate the test. It has also influenced other states to do the same. In effect they have saved thousands of lives, but more still needs to be done.
Through this documentary I hope to continue their mission of saving lives. My senior project will reflect Matthew's ongoing battle, the family's accomplishments and above all else raise awareness around CHD. I would love to hear all your thoughts on the project!
