How does HIE affect families? Most families who have a child with HIE experience trauma. Many need emotional and social support following their traumatic time in a NICU or PICU. PTSD and anxiety are common diagnoses for parents.

March 1, 2023

Contact: Betsy Pilon
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 248-574-8099

Two to three of every 1,000 live births are impacted by Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy, or HIE, a type of brain injury. More sustain an HIE injury after birth, due to multiple reasons, including near SIDS events. HIE often leads to diagnoses of cerebral palsy, epilepsy, learning disabilities, hearing and vision impairments, ADHD, and other developmental challenges.

That means tens of thousands of families worldwide are impacted by HIE each year. Since launching global HIE Awareness Month in 2016, more families are finding the evidence-based, psycho-social support they need to tackle the challenges their children may face as a result of HIE by finding a comprehensive network of peerto-peer support through Hope for HIE.

HIE Awareness Month, annually in April, is a global advocacy effort to showcase the lived experience of impacted children and families, promote equity in support and messaging in the HIE experience in the NICU and in childhood, and the call for better care, communication and connection, as well as increased research and therapeutic options to decrease the incidence and improve quality of life.

During the month of April, Hope for HIE will be championing the HIE Awareness Month campaign online, and regionally, to promote awareness, education and, most importantly, support.

The theme this year is Connected by Hope. Community stories and pictures will be shared widely on social media and the Hope for HIE website. The community can join in by using the hashtags #ConnectedbyHope and #HIEawarenessMonth, as well as tagging @HopeforHIE.

A free, comprehensive toolkit is now available with social media graphics, talking points and infographics at HIEawarenessmonth.com.

Please help spread the word about global HIE Awareness Month, to maximize awareness efforts, and connect families to critical peer-to-peer support.

About Hope for HIE
Hope for HIE is the premier global patient advocacy organization for neonatal and pediatric hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) dedicated to improving the quality of life for children and families affected by HIE through awareness, education and support. Hope for HIE is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization, based in the United States, connecting a global community of over 8,500 families, researchers and clinicians.