Wayne Woman Fights to Implement Infant Heart Screening

Lots of parents don’t know about the risks of babies born with congenital heart defects and a surprising majority doesn’t know to request a pulse oximetry screening for their newborn. However, Mary Mannix of Wayne is fighting to make sure that every newborn in Pennsylvania has this screening implemented, and with good reason.

Mannix and her husband lost their infant son, James at only 11 days old. James had a congenital heart defect and died from unsafe care in the treatment, she said. Mannix has since dedicated her life to making sure every child born with a heart defect is given a chance to live.

She now heads up efforts in Pennsylvania to ensure that a pulse oximetry screening is available and implemented on every newborn. A noninvasive procedure, the screening is relatively inexpensive and takes minimal effort on the part of clinicians. The results: it can save a child’s life, and save a family heartache and excessive medical bills if a heart defect is caught early.

“This is a safety issue. Here is a very simple, inexpensive tool we can implement to save more Pennsylvania babies. If caught early care is not as expensive, the family will know how to deal with it. It’s an astounding ripple effect that will touch every aspect of a family’s life,” Mannix said.

After their deep loss, Mannix founded James’s Project, an organization that “works to safeguard the first year of life through education, collaboration, and communication in health care.” She also became involved in local legislation when she reached out to Senator Daylin Leach of the 17th Senatorial District, this past winter. Senator Leach is now the sponsor of bill SB1202 which is named the James Matthew Mannix Bill.

“We need to consider our babies more. Parents are not counseled on this and they must, they absolutely must be.  James’s project is a culmination of a grieving mom and I am just working to make sure it doesn’t keep happening.”

Mannix's advice to parents? “If you are pregnant, ask about the most common heart defects, ask for a pulseox. Right now, if I could ask anything write your senator, write the hospital and say our babies are worth it. We expect this to be done.”