Golf tourney benefits pediatric, congenital cardiology research
HOUSTON -- (August 25, 2008) -- The 10th Anniversary Nicholas Alexander Higgins Memorial Golf Tournament benefitting pediatric and congenital cardiology research and care will tee off Sept. 20 at the Wildcat Golf Club at 12000 Almeda Road.
Funds raised will support the Texas Adult Congenital Heart Clinic at Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Heart Center and the Covenant House.
Dr. Wayne Franklin, assistant professor of medicine and pediatrics at BCM and medical director of the Texas Adult Congenital Heart Clinic, said the support is greatly needed.
"Since treatment for congenital heart disease has improved, so has the survival rate. Thus, more children are entering adulthood and facing new health challenges," Franklin said. "Sometimes, as they grow, they develop adult health problems that are often beyond the comfort level of their pediatric specialists. These patients need health professionals who can help them deal with adult issues as well as their heart problems." He notes that congenital heart disease occurs in about eight in every 1,000 births each year in the United States and that heart defects are the most common type of birth defect. This means that there are a growing number of adults with congenital heart defects as well.
Support from the Higgins family allowed the Texas Adult Congenital Heart Clinic to add its first full-time fellow to the team, which resulted in more patient-doctor time and added another doctor trained in caring for patients.
The Nicholas Alexander Higgins Memorial Golf Tournament was started by the Higgins family to celebrate the life and memory of their son Nicholas, who died at the age of 12 from a congenital heart defect.
Registration is open until the end of August. Dinner and an awards program will be held at 2 p.m. For more information contact Junior and Pauline Higgins at 713-521-3409 or http://www.tournevents.com/TCH2008/.