To the Editor:
My son Jacob was born on April 10, 2012. He appeared to be a healthy newborn. When he was two-days old, his skin turned bluish and the nurse performed pulse oximetry screening on him. Jacob's blood-oxygen level was dangerously low. Later that morning, he was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect and our life was forever changed.
Jacob is alive today because he received a pulse oximetry screening. Eleven states call for newborns to be screened for heart defects with this simple test. However New York state isn't one of them. That's why my family traveled to Albany last month to urge lawmakers to pass a bill to ensure all babies in New York are screened for heart defects prior to discharge from the hospital, using pulse oximetry testing.
Pulse oximetry screening checks a baby's blood oxygen level through sensors placed on their toe or finger. The results can indicate whether a child has a critical congenital heart defect.
Congenital heart defects are the most common birth defect in the United States and the leading killer of infants with birth defects. Wider use of pulse oximetry screening could help identify more than 90 percent of heart defects.
If we can help save a child's life, shouldn't we? Pulse oximetry is quick, painless, and it can save lives.
I am encouraged that Assemblyman Sam Roberts is currently sponsoring pulse-ox screenings for babies. Now it is time to pass this bill to help all babies have a healthy start in life.